Hex Conversion Utility Issue

The hex utility is described in the chapter titled Hex Conversion Utility Description in the ARM assembly language tools manual.  The section titled Motorola Exorciser Object Format gives the details of hex utility output for that format.  Perhaps this will help you understand what you see.

Thanks and regards,

-George

I have followed those instructions and I have also used the built-in arm hex utility in CCS 6.0 on the above-mentioned compiler versions without a proper motorola format file with the full program in it. The resulting file is the same size as the binary that is generated and that is impossible since the values are ascii-encoded and the file format added in should make it more than double in size. Byte by byte comparison proves the output is wrong. I have gone to using a bin2mot converter to get the proper motorola format for now, but I do not consider that a proper solution since the arm hex utility exists.

Is there any way you could show a small portion of code or data that has not converted correctly?  Maybe the first 20 bytes of a function, or data table.  Please describe how you developed the view of the object code or data prior to conversion to Motorola format.  I usually use the Unix command od.  But there are many other ways to do it.  In addition, show how the hex utility is being invoked.  If that includes a command file, show the contents of that file.  I am unlikely to figure this out based on that information alone, but it should advance the issue.

Thanks and regards,

-George

Non-working (should be full vector table, with some spillover):
S00600004844521B
S32200018000182D27532B2B2B000000002B2B002B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B41
S322000180742B2B2B2B2BF9012B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B312B2B2B5F
S322000180E82B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B00002BEB
S3220001815C2B2B2B002B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B4B
S31B000181D02B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B2B0002040000FFFFFFFF61
S3220001822808B058B038B018B018010200A500A400A300A2003DB0649E006496002D03

Working (created from binary with bin2mot, contains some bytes past end of vector table):
S010000062696E326D6F7420284B544F29D5
S31500018000181900202D9A0200277D0200530F020045
S315000180102B6602002B6602002B66020000000000A0
S315000180200000000000000000000000002B660200B6
S315000180302B660200000000002B6602002B66020080
S315000180402B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200DD
S315000180502B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200CD
S315000180602B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200BD
S315000180702B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200AD
S315000180802B6602002B660200F986020001F301004D
S315000180902B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602008D
S315000180A02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602007D
S315000180B02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602006D
S315000180C02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602005D
S315000180D02B6602002B66020031E101002B660200CD
S315000180E02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602003D
S315000180F02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602002D
S315000181002B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602001C
S315000181102B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602000C
S315000181202B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200FC
S315000181302B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200EC
S315000181402B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200DC
S3150001815000000000000000002B6602002B660200F2
S315000181602B6602002B660200000000002B6602004F
S315000181702B6602002B6602002B6602002B660200AC
S315000181802B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602009C
S315000181902B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602008C
S315000181A02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602007C
S315000181B02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602006C
S315000181C02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602005C
S315000181D02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602004C
S315000181E02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602003C
S315000181F02B6602002B6602002B6602002B6602002C
S315000182002B6602000000000002FF01FF04FF03FFCE
S31500018210682D010012DF3390FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF15
S31500018220FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF08B5A148B0F9000000

Console Output for hex utility:
'Invoking: ARM Hex Utility'
"c:/ti/ccsv6/tools/compiler/arm_5.1.10/bin/armhex" --diag_wrap=on --display_error_number --issue_remarks --motorola=3 -o "some_App.hex" "some_App.out"
Translating to Motorola-S3 format...
"some_App.out" ==> .intvecs
"some_App.out" ==> .text
"some_App.out" ==> .const
"some_App.out" ==> .specSect
"some_App.out" ==> .cinit
warning #21056-D: section some_App.out(.text) was padded by 2 to a size of 71712
to satisfy the specified memory width of 4
warning #21056-D: section some_App.out(.const) was padded by 3 to a size of 4276
to satisfy the specified memory width of 4
warning #21056-D: section some_App.out(.specSect) was padded by 1 to a size of
392 to satisfy the specified memory width of 4
'Finished building: some_App.hex'
' '

After carefully parsing it out, you can see that both of the memory blocks shown start at target address 0x00018000.  The non-working block shows contents of 0x182d2753 at that address.  The working block shows 0x18190020.  Let's focus on this one difference.  It is probably typical.  I presume 0x18190020 is the correct contents.  I don't know anything about the vector table.  What is contained there?  An address?  Or an instruction?  What could possibly explain this difference?  Does it make sense to disassemble the original executable (usually .out) file and see what it shows at this address?

Thanks and regards,

-George

Judging by the value and the memory map, that is an address in RAM for the stack pointer for a TM4C1290NCPDT.

Please attach the linker map file.  This file is usually the same name as the executable .out file, but with the extension .map instead.  That file will show me what section is loaded at address 0x00018000.  

Thanks and regards,

-George

George,

A portion of the map file is listed below as this is a company project and
gives you what you need (I have also included the vector table in another response):

******************************************************************************
TI ARM Linker PC v5.1.10
******************************************************************************
>> Linked Fri Mar 27 15:45:08 2015

OUTPUT FILE NAME: <some_App.out>
ENTRY POINT SYMBOL: "_c_int00" address: 00028861


MEMORY CONFIGURATION

name origin length used unused attr fill
---------------------- -------- --------- -------- -------- ---- --------
FLASH 00018000 000e8000 00012cd6 000d532a R X
SRAM 20000000 00040000 00001e86 0003e17a RW X


SEGMENT ALLOCATION MAP

run origin load origin length init length attrs members
---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----- -------
00018000 00018000 00012ce0 00012ce0 r-x
00018000 00018000 00000228 00000228 r-- .intvecs
00018228 00018228 00011796 00011796 r-x .text
000299c0 000299c0 000010b1 000010b1 r-- .const
0002aa74 0002aa74 00000187 00000187 r-- .specSect
0002ac00 0002ac00 000000e0 000000e0 r-- .cinit
20000000 20000000 00001e89 00000000 rw-
20000000 20000000 00001000 00000000 rw- .sysmem
20001000 20001000 00000800 00000000 rw- .stack
20001800 20001800 00000511 00000000 rw- .bss
20001d14 20001d14 00000175 00000000 rw- .data


SECTION ALLOCATION MAP

output attributes/
section page origin length input sections
-------- ---- ---------- ---------- ----------------
.init_array
* 0 00018000 00000000 UNINITIALIZED

.intvecs 0 00018000 00000228
00018000 00000228 tm4c1290ncpdt_startup_ccs.obj (.intvecs)

.text 0 00018228 00011796

The vector table:
#pragma DATA_SECTION(g_pfnVectors, ".intvecs")
void (* const g_pfnVectors[])(void) =
{
(void (*)(void))((uint32_t)&__STACK_TOP),
// The initial stack pointer
ResetISR, // The reset handler
NmiSR, // The NMI handler
FaultISR, // The hard fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The MPU fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The bus fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The usage fault handler
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // SVCall handler
IntDefaultHandler, // Debug monitor handler
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // The PendSV handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The SysTick handler
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port A
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port B
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port C
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port D
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port E
IntDefaultHandler, // UART0 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART1 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI0 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C0 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Fault
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 0
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 1
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 2
IntDefaultHandler, // Quadrature Encoder 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 1
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 2
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 3
WatchdogIntHandler, // Watchdog timer
Timer0IntHandler, // Timer 0 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 0 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 1 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 1 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 2 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 2 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 0
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 1
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 2
IntDefaultHandler, // System Control (PLL, OSC, BO)
IntDefaultHandler, // FLASH Control
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port F
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port G
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port H
IntDefaultHandler, // UART2 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI1 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 3 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 3 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C1 Master and Slave
CAN0IntHandler, // CAN0
IntDefaultHandler, // CAN1
IntDefaultHandler, // Ethernet
IntDefaultHandler, // Hibernate
IntDefaultHandler, // USB0
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 3
IntDefaultHandler, // uDMA Software Transfer
IntDefaultHandler, // uDMA Error
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 1
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 2
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 3
IntDefaultHandler, // External Bus Interface 0
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port J
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port K
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port L
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI2 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI3 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART3 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART4 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART5 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART6 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART7 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C2 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C3 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 4 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 4 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 5 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 5 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // FPU
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C4 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C5 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port M
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port N
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // Tamper
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P (Summary or P0)
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P1
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P2
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P3
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P4
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P5
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P6
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P7
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q (Summary or Q0)
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q1
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q2
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q3
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q4
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q5
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q6
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q7
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port R
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port S
IntDefaultHandler, // SHA/MD5 0
IntDefaultHandler, // AES 0
IntDefaultHandler, // DES3DES 0
IntDefaultHandler, // LCD Controller 0
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 6 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 6 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 7 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 7 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C6 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C7 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM Scan Matrix Keyboard 0
IntDefaultHandler, // One Wire 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM PS/2 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM LED Sequencer 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM Consumer IR 0
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C8 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C9 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port T
IntDefaultHandler, // Fan 1
0, // Reserved
(void (*)(void))0xFF01FF02,
(void (*)(void))0xFF03FF04,
(void (*)(void))0x00000000,
(void (*)(void))0x00000000,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF
};

#pragma DATA_SECTION(g_pfnVectors, ".intvecs")
void (* const g_pfnVectors[])(void) =
{
(void (*)(void))((uint32_t)&__STACK_TOP),
// The initial stack pointer
ResetISR, // The reset handler
NmiSR, // The NMI handler
FaultISR, // The hard fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The MPU fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The bus fault handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The usage fault handler
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // SVCall handler
IntDefaultHandler, // Debug monitor handler
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // The PendSV handler
IntDefaultHandler, // The SysTick handler
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port A
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port B
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port C
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port D
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port E
IntDefaultHandler, // UART0 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART1 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI0 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C0 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Fault
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 0
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 1
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 2
IntDefaultHandler, // Quadrature Encoder 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 1
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 2
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC Sequence 3
WatchdogIntHandler, // Watchdog timer
Timer0IntHandler, // Timer 0 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 0 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 1 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 1 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 2 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 2 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 0
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 1
IntDefaultHandler, // Analog Comparator 2
IntDefaultHandler, // System Control (PLL, OSC, BO)
IntDefaultHandler, // FLASH Control
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port F
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port G
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port H
IntDefaultHandler, // UART2 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI1 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 3 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 3 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C1 Master and Slave
CAN0IntHandler, // CAN0
IntDefaultHandler, // CAN1
IntDefaultHandler, // Ethernet
IntDefaultHandler, // Hibernate
IntDefaultHandler, // USB0
IntDefaultHandler, // PWM Generator 3
IntDefaultHandler, // uDMA Software Transfer
IntDefaultHandler, // uDMA Error
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 0
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 1
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 2
IntDefaultHandler, // ADC1 Sequence 3
IntDefaultHandler, // External Bus Interface 0
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port J
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port K
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port L
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI2 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // SSI3 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART3 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART4 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART5 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART6 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // UART7 Rx and Tx
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C2 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C3 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 4 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 4 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 5 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 5 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // FPU
0, // Reserved
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C4 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C5 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port M
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port N
0, // Reserved
IntDefaultHandler, // Tamper
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P (Summary or P0)
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P1
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P2
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P3
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P4
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P5
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P6
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port P7
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q (Summary or Q0)
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q1
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q2
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q3
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q4
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q5
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q6
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port Q7
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port R
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port S
IntDefaultHandler, // SHA/MD5 0
IntDefaultHandler, // AES 0
IntDefaultHandler, // DES3DES 0
IntDefaultHandler, // LCD Controller 0
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 6 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 6 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 7 subtimer A
IntDefaultHandler, // Timer 7 subtimer B
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C6 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C7 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM Scan Matrix Keyboard 0
IntDefaultHandler, // One Wire 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM PS/2 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM LED Sequencer 0
IntDefaultHandler, // HIM Consumer IR 0
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C8 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // I2C9 Master and Slave
IntDefaultHandler, // GPIO Port T
IntDefaultHandler, // Fan 1
0, // Reserved
(void (*)(void))0xFF01FF02,
(void (*)(void))0xFF03FF04,
(void (*)(void))0x00000000,
(void (*)(void))0x00000000,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF,
(void (*)(void))0xFFFFFFFF
};

What is the value of the symbol __STACK_TOP?  Is it possible that it could change between builds?

Thanks and regards,

-George