Supporting Third Party Programming Tools

<sidebar>Sidebar: Flowcode Help Overview:ChipSpecific</sidebar>

Each version of Flowcode comes ready with a default programming tool. However it is fairly easy to change the settings in Flowcode to allow for third party programming tools to be used.

The programming tool that is invoked when the compile to chip button is pressed is configured in the Build menu under Compiler options then click on the Programmer tab page.

For help with third party programming tools the first port of call should be to check our forums to see if anyone else has already tried the programming tool with Flowcode. If you are the first then if you wish you can post your findings for other users to benefit from.

Microchip PIC / dsPIC

mLoader

mLoader is the default programming software and can be used to talk to the various Matrix hardware including EB006, EB064, EB031, Formula Flowcode, ECIO, MIAC, ProtoBoard, ProjectBoard...

Location:

$(appdir)tools\mLoader\mLoader.exe

Parameters:

-chip $(chip:u) "$(outdir)$(target).hex"

PPP

PPP is the older programming software from Flowcode v5 and previous and can be used to talk to versions of the EB006 up to and including version 8.

Location:

$(appdir)tools\PPP\PPPv3.exe

Parameters:

-cs 2 -chip PIC$(chip:u) -nogui "$(outdir)$(target).hex"

PICkit2

Location:

$(appdir)tools\PICkit2\pk2cmd.exe

Parameters:

-B$(appdir)tools\PICkit2\ -PPIC$(chip) -F$(target).hex -M -A5 -R

PICkit3

Location:

$(appdir)tools\PICkit3\PK3CMD.exe

Parameters:

-P$(chip) -F$(target).hex -E -M

or for 16-bit PIC devices

Parameters:

-P$(chip) -F$(target).hex -E -M -L

Microchip FS USB

Flowcode PIC comes with a example for using the free microchip USB bootloader. Changing your target to the MCHP_FSUSB will automatically configure the programmer to use the Microchip PDFSUSB programming tool. Note - The USB bootloader firmware must be present on the device to allow the programming tool to connect correctly to the device.

TINY PIC Bootloader

Support for the Serial TINY PIC Bootloader is documented here.

AVR

AVR Dude

The AVRDUDE programming tool supports a number of third party programmers for more help and information please visit the AVRDUDE home page.

Arduino

Flowcode version 6.1 has much better in built support for Arduino hardware, a document explaining how to use Flowcode 6.1 with Arduino is available from here. {Coming Soon}

Support for Arduino prior to Flowcode 6.1 is documented here.

ARM

Flowcode ARM comes with a set of precompiled bootloader files. This allows the matrix mLoader USB reprogrammable operation to be used on any third party ARM hardware.

mLoader

mLoader is the default programming software and can be used to talk to the various Matrix hardware including EB006, EB064, EB031, Formula Flowcode, ECIO, MIAC, ProtoBoard, ProjectBoard...

Location:

$(appdir)tools\mLoader\mLoader.exe

Parameters:

-eb0310 "$(target).s19"

SAM-BA

The SAM-BA tool is provided by Atmel and works with the default SAM7S bootloader which can be automatically restored to the device by powering up the ARM hardware for ten seconds using the TST jumper in the none default setting. Note this will delete the Matrix USB bootloader from the device.