serial port help needed

Sam,

Could you please clarify the question? Are you talking about data transfer alone, or programming the MSP?

Application connections:

For MSP-to-PC via USB, try this app note: http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/mcusupporttechdocsc.tsp?sectionId=96&tabId=1502&abstractName=slaa276a

For MSP-to-PC via Serial comm, try this reference schematic: http://www.softbaugh.com/downloads/DIR169_Sch_v1_3.pdf

Programming connections:

JTAG: http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/mcusupporttechdocsc.tsp?sectionId=96&tabId=1502&abstractName=slaa149f
JTAG tools for purchase: http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/mcuprodmsptoolsw.tsp?sectionId=95&tabId=1203&familyId=342&toolTypeId=1#hardware

BSL: http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/mcusupporttechdocsc.tsp?sectionId=96&tabId=1502&abstractName=slaa089d

I am not aware of any MATLAB references.

I have a USB FET for programming the MSP, after programming i want to interface it with matlab for data transfer, so for this data transfer can i use USB to RS 232 convertor or do i need a serial port on my machine. If i use the USB to RS232 convertor then is same like tranfering data via serial port or i need t access the USB port

Sam,

Using a USB-to-serial for application data transfer should be OK, but please note the mitigating factor here will be the program on the PC end interpreting the data, not the MSP430. 

As a side note: We don't recommend using those converters for programming. Customers have run into issues trying to use the parallel FET with a Serial-to-USB connector.