Compiler/MSP432P401R: Loading a binary object into flash during programing to be read by NVS later

John Pocreva

Part Number: MSP432P401R

Tool/software: TI C/C++ Compiler

Hello All,

I am using a MSP432P401R and working with the NVSInternal sample from the SDK. What I would like to do is during the CPU flashing / programming process include a binary file created on the Host OS that will be read by the NVSInternal peripheral at runtime.

The idea is I would like to be able to load a Binary object that represents a calibration model for the program that will run on the MSP432. The model will be less than 8kbytes in size. I have been searching the literature and don't really find much on the subject of preloading the NVS sections.

Is what I am asking feasible or even possible? If so how would I go about it.

Thanks in advance.

over 5 years ago

0 Srinivas Lingam over 5 years ago

TI__Expert 7365 points

Hi JP,

You can make that binary object part of your program itself. You can invoke that object during the calibration phase of your system. Would this approach not work for you?

Srinivas

0 John Pocreva over 5 years ago in reply to Srinivas Lingam

Intellectual 905 points

I believe that would work. What steps do I need to take to do that. Can I just write the file to a OS file and then include that in my link somehow? The somehow is what I need to know.

Thanks

0 Srinivas Lingam over 5 years ago in reply to John Pocreva

TI__Expert 7365 points

Hi JP,

Yes, you should be able to write the calibration procedure in a separate file, include this as part of the program. This should be similar to the other files that will be included in your program. You can look at any of the example projects for MSP432P401R LaunchPad at http://dev.ti.com/tirex/explore/node?node=AGFblz3e8i2obDj8Zj3kUg__z-lQYNj__LATEST

Srinivas

0 John Pocreva over 5 years ago in reply to Srinivas Lingam

Intellectual 905 points

I understand how to include a source code file. I want to include a binary object that does not have a associated source file. Can you point me to the specific example that shows how to accomplish this?

Thanks

0 John Pocreva over 5 years ago in reply to John Pocreva

Intellectual 905 points

The link below is exactly what I am trying to do. I cannot find anywhere that a solution to this actually exists. Could you tell me if they ever upgraded the compiler to include this functionality? It says it was resolved and it seems that it hasn't been.

https://e2e.ti.com/support/tools/ccs/f/81/t/89649?placing-binary-resources-in-the-linked-executable

0 Srinivas Lingam over 5 years ago in reply to John Pocreva

TI__Expert 7365 points

Hi John,

The TI Bug and Enhancement System shows that this has not been implemented. That specific entry is https://sir.ext.ti.com/jira/browse/EXT_EP-6616?jql=text%20~%20%22%5C%22SDSCM00043204%5C%22%22

Srinivas

0 Chester Gillon over 5 years ago in reply to John Pocreva

Guru 92251 points

The TI ARM v20 code generation tools contains a llvm based armobjcopy tool, which allows reading a binary input file and outputting an ELF object file which contains the binary file embedded as a data section. The ELF object file contains symbols for the start and and address of the binary file, which can be used by a program to access the source binary file which has been linked. See BINARY INPUT AND OUTPUT for an explanation of this functionality.

The attached CCS project contains an example of this, which for a demonstration link the source code as a binary input which is displayed by the program. The header of the MSP432P401R_link_binary_blob.c source file explains how the project was configured, which involves running armobjcopy as a pre-build step and the required linker settings in the project.

MSP432P401R_link_binary_blob.zip

0 Chester Gillon over 5 years ago in reply to Chester Gillon

Guru 92251 points

Chester Gillon said:
The TI ARM v20 code generation tools contains a llvm based armobjcopy tool, which allows reading a binary input file and outputting an ELF object file which contains the binary file embedded as a data section.

Having the binary file placed in a .data section by armobjcopy increases the RAM usage, due to the binary file having to be copied from FLASH to RAM by the start-up code.

An updated example is attached, where the armobjcopy command has been adjusted to place the binary file in a .const section which the linker can then place in FLASH.

7360.MSP432P401R_link_binary_blob.zip

0 John Pocreva over 5 years ago in reply to Chester Gillon

Intellectual 905 points

Thank you for this. I have not had a chance to try it out, but I will in a day or so. It sounds like exactly what I need.

Thanks

Code Composer Studio™︎

Code Composer Studio forum

Compiler/MSP432P401R: Loading a binary object into flash during programing to be read by NVS later