Dear all,
Although we've been using MSP430 devices for some time, we've just started to use TI tools to do so. We've installed CCS 5 successfully and are able to compile code and generate TI-TXT files that we upload with Softbaugh JTAG.
We would like to get rid of Softbaugh devices, so we would need to be able to upload compiled images to the MSP430 using the MSP-FET430UIF. Is that even possible? The only way we've found to upload code with that device is to start debug mode in CCS. There is no menu dedicated to the device, and actually we're even unable to upload code in release mode.
Also, it's impracticable for us to ask our subcontractor to install CCS in order to flash the MSP430 embedded in the boards they produce for us. Isn't there a simple application, independent from CCS, to do this? We don't want to give them our source code, we want to give them only the compiled image.
Thanks in advance for any help about this issue.
TI doesn't provide an offline-programming tool for the FET430UIF. I think this functionality is limited to their GANG programmer (which is the designated production tool). The upload through the FET430UIF is only done within the development chain (compiler-linker-debugger).
However, the free Elpotronic lite FET-pro430 software does the job.
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You may want to reference this wiki page for how to generate binary files in CCS and then load them using the FET tool (this uses the Elprotronic software like Jens-Michael suggests): http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Generating_and_Loading_MSP430_Binary_Files
You can also take a look at the MSP430 Flasher command line utility here, which can be used with the MSP-FET430UIF to load .txt/.hex files (these can be generated from CCS): http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/MSP430_Flasher_-_Command_Line_Programmer
For a factory setting with mass production, however, you may want to consider the MSP-GANG programmer instead of the MSP-FET430UIF - this can very quickly program up to 8 devices at a time.
Regards,
Katie
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Thanks for your answers.
We've tried using the Elprotronic software but it somehow requires a different firmware for the MSP-FET430UIF. If we refuse to do the firmware upgrade, programming fails. If we accept, programming works but then CCS complains that the firmware must be updated before entering a debugging session.
Is that normal? Does this mean that the firmware for "simply programming" is different from the firmware for debugging?
Any information about this? Flashing a new firmware each time is kind of painful.
Fran��ois IngelrestIs that normal? Does this mean that the firmware for "simply programming" is different from the firmware for debugging?
If you have an older compiler but the laterst version of the Elprotronic tool, this might be the source of your problems.But you should write a mail to Elprotronic. The guys there are very helpful and may provide an older version of the tool or other info how to solve this. i remember that you're not the first one with this problem. There is an older thread in this forum about the same situationand also a solution. Maybe the search function can dig it out for you. ('elprotronic' should be a good keyword to search for, maybe combined with 'update'