Flowcode claims ECIO-28P (USB) not connected

[Tippex]

I'm using Vista (Home edition) and Flowcode claims ECIO-28P (USB) not connected: "USB Cable not plugged in, Continue?".

Searching for an answer on this, I understand that Vista powers the module up and immediately powers it down, so I only see it listed in Device Manager for a fraction of a second and even if I manage to right-click properties in time before it disappears, there is no "Power Management" tab to untick the "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".
Just got "General, Driver and Details" tabs.

Under General it gives its location as: "Port_#0002.Hub_#0008". Under "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" there are 7 "USB Root Hub" devices listed and I've unticked the "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" on each but get the same problem. Each time I connect the ECIO-28P I get a "ECIO-28P Loaded" balloon followed straight after by "ECIO-28P Stopped" balloon. I've tried using another ECIO-28P (in case one was faulty) but get the same problem. I've tried different USB ports .... same problem.

I've tried putting the "ECIO-28P" into a 4 port USB hub connected to the PC ... again same problem. I'm now stuck for ideas. Under "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" as well as those 7 "USB Root Hub" devices, there are also: 2 "Generic USB Hub"s, 5 "Intel ICH8 Family USB Universal Host Controller"s, 2 "Intel ICH8 Family USB2 Universal Host Controller"s, and 2 "USB Composite Device"s ... but none of these has a "Power Management" tab. Any ideas please?

Thanks in anticipation,
Tippex

[DamianR]

Hi

I'm having the same problem.

XP with sp3 installed

Installed flowcode 3.4.7.48

then correctly installed driver

then plugged in ECIO-28P - green led flashes and bong bing from PC speaker implying a connection.

confirmed installation - agreed to non-digitally signed etc - says installed correctly in windows...

but then bing bong from PC speaker as green led stops flashing and remains constantly lit.

Every time I press the reset button it appears for a few seconds in device manager but then disappears with the same bing bong!

Flowcode claims at all times that there is no USB cable attached as does PPv3.

I've tried on my Samsung q45 laptop and on my home built PC running Vista - same problem.

I've been through every support document and the procedures in the FAQ including the power management proceedure.

I have, of course, downloaded and installed the latest drivers (several times!).

This is a rather unfortunate introduction to Matrix Multimedia for me.

[Tippex]

Thanks for your post Damian; sorry to hear that you have the same problem. I have also now tried it on my old laptop with XP plus sp3 installed ... but very same problem

[Benj]

Hello

The ECIOs do not use PPP as a method of programming. Open your Flowcode V3 folder and run the ECIOProg.exe tool that is available there. Then reset your ECIO and it should remain flashing while the ECIOProg tool is open. The ECIOProg tool should also state that the ECIO has been detected. If this is not working correctly then there is a small FAQ available from here.

http://www.matrixmultimedia.com/support ... .php?t=537

[Tippex]

Thanks Ben for your assistance with this.

The messages I get with ECIOProg.exe (starting it just before plugging in the ECIO) are as follows:

ECIO not found!
ECIO-28 version: 1.1
Ready

The LED does remain flashing and I assume from the messages above, that the ECIOProg does at least recognise the ECIO has been connected.

Please can you kindly let me know how to configure Flowcode v3.4.7.48 so that it uses ECIOProg instead of PPP (for Flowcode's "Compile to Chip" to work)?

I assume just a matter of changing "Programmer location" to: C:\Program Files\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V3\ECIOprog.exe
But what (if anything) should go in the "Programmer Parameters" please?

Thank you in anticipation,
Tippex

[Steve]

Just select the ECIO28 or ECIO40 as the appropriate target chip and the correct programmer will be used without needing to alter the programmer setting within Flowcode.

[Tippex]

Thank you .... I'm getting much further I think.

Having set the target to ECIO-28 (instead of the chip used), Flowcode complained over the configuration. I realised that UAC was stopping the process copying the compiled program (in my case "Flowcode1.hex") into a Program Files area (protected by Vista). To get passed that problem, I set the properties of Flowcode to "Run as Administrator" which allowed it to proceed to the next problem.

On compile to chip, it wasn't able to see the ECIO-28P until I pressed "reset" on the module:


Launching the programmer...

C:\Program Files\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V3\ECIOprog.exe -nogui "Flowcode1.hex"

File loaded: Flowcode1.hex
ECIO not found!

........................................................................

ECIO not found!
ECIO-28 version: 1.1
Ready
Sending Program...
USB Write Failed

Failed with error 997: Overlapped I/O operation is in progress.


Send Failed
Ready

Return code = 0

FINISHED


I think Vista powered up ECIO-28P when the reset button was pressed then powered it down immediately.
Only .... this time it's all very different. Vista's Device Manager now lists it as a device and it even has a Power Management tab containing "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" (I've now unticked it).


Having removed then re-connected the ECIO-28P I tried once more to "compile to chip".

Again it couldn't "see" the module until reset was pressed (a pop-up asked for reset to be pressed).
Here's the log:


Launching the programmer...

C:\Program Files\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V3\ECIOprog.exe -nogui "Flowcode1.hex"

File loaded: Flowcode1.hex
ECIO not found!

..................................

ECIO not found!
ECIO-28 version: 1.1
Ready
Sending Program...

...

Send Completed
Ready

Return code = 0

FINISHED


Finally "Send Completed"!!

Thank you everyone for your help with all this - most appreciated.

It would be great to keep Flowcode updated but I can't find the specific link or menu option to update with - can anyone please advise?

Thanks,
Tippex.

[Steve]

I'm really glad you got it working.

V3.4.7 is the latest version of Flowcode v3 and I don't think we'll be releasing any updates before we release v4 (scheduled for January) - unless something really drastic is discovered. We do have a newsletter in which we will announce any updates to Flowcode, plus other special offers or new products we are releasing. It comes out once a month, so it's not too intrusive. You can join the list here:
http://www.matrixmultimedia.com/mailing_list.php

The UAC in Vista has caused some issues, but you should not need to run Flowcode as an admin. Instead, get into the habit of saving your program files in directories where Vista wants you to save them (e.g. "Documents" within your own personal folder), instead of where it doesn't (e.g. Program Files).

[Tippex]

Thank you for the advice

Just to clarify the need to "run as adminstrator" .... it really comes down to Flowcode overide statement:
C:\Program Files\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V3\ECIOprog.exe -nogui "Flowcode1.hex"

What appears to be happening is that once "compile to chip" has been selected, no matter where the source file has been saved (eg. in Documents) or previously compiled into, Flowcode will automatically place the compiled ".hex" file into the installation folder for Flowcode v3 (where ECIOprog.exe resides) which defaults to "C:\Program Files\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V3". I guess that is the reason why the Flowcode overide statement never gave a pathname for my example "Flowcode1.hex" (because it knows it will always be found in the installed directory where it puts it).

Thanks again,
Tippex

[Steve]

No - the hex file does not get placed in the FlowcodeV3 installation folder. It always gets placed in the same location as the FCF file (i.e. where you save your Flowcode program).

The programmer "knows" where to find it because the Windows "current working directory" is set appropriately before the programming utility is launched.

[jadiflow]

I've been following this discussion as I had the same issues; now also at the point where the program is loaded successfully into the ECIO module.
Now on to the next step: what needs to be done to start the downloaded app? Should it start automatically? Should I disconnect the USB cable and/or press again reset on the ECIO? I ask because the app (a simple 'hello world') doesn't seem to start up by itself.

TIA,

Jan Didden

[Benj]

Hello Jan

Yes the programs should run automatically once programmed from Flowcode. If you are using the ECIOProg programming tool on its own then you will have to close the tool after programming to allow the ECIO to start running the program. Could be that your program is over before you know it and therefore you are not seeing anything. Are you printing out to the LCD? Could be that you missed the start macro at the beginning of your program or that the pin connections are incorrect etc.

[jadiflow]

Thanks Ben,

Yes I do an LCD print, I have the start macro & double-checked connections etc, but will do again.

Jan Didden

[Benj]

Hi Jan

Ok so we've got the basics covered we think. Im guessing your supplying 5V power to the +V on the LCD board too. Is anything happening at all on the LCD? When you first power up the module the top row of characters should appear as black squares. As soon as the init function runs these squares should dissapear or at least become a lot fainter. Is this happening at all?

[jadiflow]

My face is red!
I just discovered that the pinout of the ECIO header is not the same as the pinout of the F2455...
My bad. Back to the drawing board.

Edit: I assume that I don't have to connect VDD_OUT if the peripheral stuff is fed from an external supply, right?

Jan Didden

[Benj]

Hello Jan

Ok thats great. The chip diagram in Flowcode should show you the correct ECIO pinout.

Also yes you dont need to use the VDD OUT pin it is only there incase you need to power external devices from the USB power supply.