Flash Programmer, s19

[cyberthor]

Hi,

What is the purpose of s19 file? Am I right that it is used by flash programmer to download the code to MCU? But why can't a flash programmer download binary file directly onto MCU?

Because s19 is just text file, how can be a text file be flashed onto MCU?

I guess my main question is: I am missing the process between an s19 file and downloaded binary code in MCU

Thanks

 

[betwixt]

In many cases they can. Text representations of binary flash data has three advantages:
1. It allows the address to be given as well as the data.
2. It allows CRC validation of the address and data.
3. It can be transmitted and saved in all communications system.

Consider a large device - say 8Mb but you only want to program the last 16 bytes, a 'flat' binary file would have to include the whole device but the address of the final 16 bytes can be specifically given in the 's' file so the programmer can go straight to that location.

Brian.

 

[cyberthor]

In many cases they can. Text representations of binary flash data has three advantages:
1. It allows the address to be given as well as the data.
2. It allows CRC validation of the address and data.
3. It can be transmitted and saved in all communications system.

Consider a large device - say 8Mb but you only want to program the last 16 bytes, a 'flat' binary file would have to include the whole device but the address of the final 16 bytes can be specifically given in the 's' file so the programmer can go straight to that location.

Brian.

Thanks Brian.

- So the flash programming tool (or emulator) would interpret s19 file's (each line's address and data), and then download them to MCU? So it is ok for the s19 file not to start with address zero?
- Is the s19 file used by other component in the toolchain, besides flash programming tool?
- How about ELF file? What is the purpose? To be used by flash programming tool for downloading purpose also?

 

[betwixt]

- So the flash programming tool (or emulator) would interpret s19 file's (each line's address and data), and then download them to MCU? So it is ok for the s19 file not to start with address zero?

Correct, there is a good explanation of the file format here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SREC_(file_format)

- Is the s19 file used by other component in the toolchain, besides flash programming tool?

Not normally, although possibly some simulators might use it in the same way as a programmer to know what addresses are to be loaded with data.

- How about ELF file? What is the purpose? To be used by flash programming tool for downloading purpose also?

ELF (Executable and Linkable Format) is not normally used for programming but it does contain information needed to build and debug a program. For example it could contain the addresses of entry points or subroutines and the type of processor it is intended to run on so a debugging tool has more than a plain binary file to work with. It's the kind of information about a program that you don't get in the final binary image.

Brian.

 

[nagkiller]

One of S19 is a file to burn into NXP(old Motorola and Freescale...) like type MC68HC908QT1, MC9S08SH8, etc...

Could be too a ST (STM8 or STM32)...