New MSP-Gang programmer - problem disabeling targets

Hi Michael.

You should be able to disable a target dynamically by using the MSPGANG_SetConfig like you said, there should be no reason to load a new image. You should be able to get the status of which devices failed from MSPGANG_GetProgressStatus. Using these two commands you should be able to accomplish your task.

Best regards

Anders Lange

Hi Anders,

Thanks for your reply.

I just can't get it working.

Here is what I do:

Prepare an image.

MSPGANG_InitCom

MSPGANG_Load_Config

MSPGANG_SetNameConfig; CODEFILE_INDEX 0

MSPGANG_Set_MCU_Name

MSPGANG_SetConfig; CFG_TARGET_EN_INDEX

MSPGANG_Save_Config

MSPGANG_CreateGangImage

Prepare the programmer.

MSPGANG_SelectImage

MSPGANG_EraseImage

MSPGANG_LoadImageBlock

MSPGANG_VerifyPSImageBlock

Program the targets.

MSPGANG_SelectImage

MSPGANG_MainProcess

MSPGANG_GetProgressStatus

If a target fails, and to avoid reprogramming all targets I tried

MSPGANG_Load_Config

MSPGANG_SetConfig; CFG_TARGET_EN_INDEX, disabling the targets that don’t want to program

MSPGANG_Save_Config

When I repeat the programming process, the programmer still programs all targets. All that's changed is the property “GangEnMask” in the *.mspgangproj file

Am I doing something wrong?

Best regards

Michael Christiansen

Hi Michael,

I was just trying this out. I think you are right, this method does require loading the image after setting the config for it to take effect, since the MainProcess uses the settings from the image (including the enabled targets).

However, one alternative you could do would be if you already had 9 GANG images already stored in the GANG's internal memory - one image with all targets enabled, and then one for each target to be enabled by itself. This would allow you to instead of having to generate a new image and loading it if there is an error, simply select the image (already loaded) corresponding to the failing unit. This could be inefficient if there are multiple failing units, but I would hope that you wouldn't be having a lot of units failing.

Regards,

Katie

Hi Katie,

Thanks for your reply.

I see your method could function as a work-around, not the smoothest way, but would work if only one target was failing. Otherwise as you mentioned, it would be inefficient. Also it will extend the prep time by 9 times.

Will this function be part of a future release?

I talked to one of the guys from Elprotronic back in the beginning of August. He was refering to a sw  v1.00.10.00 , but it's still not released on TI web page.

Any chance the function is already supported in this version?

Best regards

Michael

Hi Michael,

Michael said:

 Also it will extend the prep time by 9 times.

You don't need to have the loading of the images into the GANG happen every single time for every set of 8 targets. You can have the images stored already in the internal memory of the MSP-GANG. You could do this either by writing a separate routine that runs once at the factory and just loads the images. Then whenever you want to load 8 parts with code, you only have to run a program that just selects an image and programs (not having to load the images). So that 9 times longer only happens once when you very first set up a new MSP-GANG, not every time you put a new set of MSP430 targets on it - you could program hundreds of them without having to load a new image. The reason that I think that the example DLL programs load the image each time is just to show you how to do it, and also I think they show how to put a unique serial number for each part.

I'm guessing the reason to not want to program new image in to change the enabled targets is to save time, and having the images preloaded so as to not have to run every time will hopefully save you some time whether you do this 9 image method or not.

As for whether this function will ever be changed, I'm thinking not - it seems like a property of the way the GANG works - the process operates off the data in the current image. But I'm unsure, I can try to check or at least recommend it as a feature suggestion.

Regards,

Katie

Hi Katie,

I know I don't have to load the programmer before every set of targets, but our inline tester is running approximately 200 different products which all have different firmware.

Thus, I would have to reload the programmer whenever I change product, which may happen 20-30 times per day.

Please suggest this feature, it would be very appreciated.

Thanks,

Michael

Hi Michael,

Thanks, I think I understand your situation better now. This makes sense.

Sorry that there is not a very smooth way to handle the functionality you are wanting. Unfortunately you will have to re-load the image adjusted for only reprogramming the failing targets for now. I will recommend it as a feature suggestion.

Regards,

Katie

Hi Michael,

I think you are correct, sorry for the confusion. This is not something I'd seen people use in the DLL before but looks to be exactly what you are looking for :-)

Regards,

Katie