READ DISK FILE INTO BUFFER

READ DISK FILE INTO BUFFER

This command provides you with a variety of options for loading a binary, Intel Hex or Motorola S-record file into the buffer for viewing, editing or programming.

Command Options and File Load Summary

1. Normal (load at buffer base) - This option is provided as a simple method for loading any file into the buffer. You need only provide a filename and the system will automatically determine the file type and load it into the buffer. Intel Hex and Motorola S-Record files are automatically loaded at the addresses specified in the file address records.

2. User defined load address - This option allows you to specify where in the buffer a binary file will be loaded. You may use this option to load multiple files into the buffer for editing or programming.

3. User defined base address - This option allows you to specify the base address used by the buffer. In essence this option allows you to redefine buffer address 0 to be any address within a 4 gigabyte address space (0-FFFFFFFF). With the buffer base redefined, you may load hex files with address records located anywhere within a 32 bit physical address range.

4. 16/32 bit data path - This option allows you to load data for odd/even devices (16 bit data path) or 0, 1, 2, 3 devices (32 bit data path). This is also called byte split and shuffle. This option functions for both binary and hex type files.

5. Load sequential hex string - This option allows you to load a sequential string of hex characters into the buffer. This option originated from requests by users who needed to enter straight ASCII hex information without load addresses. Files of this type are usually created by a word processor or text editor.

6. File type - This option allows you to override the automatic file type setting normally used by the system and force processing of a specific file type (binary, Intel hex or S-record). This option is only used if the file format is too corrupt or altered for the system to automatically determine its format.

7. Recall buffer/file data summary - This option will redisplay the file load summary described at the top of this page.

FILE LOAD SUMMARY - The command provides a load summary after a file has been processed. The load summary displays the number of bytes loaded and where in the buffer they were placed. If a hex file has been processed, the summary will display not only where the data was loaded, but also where hex data was encountered. If you attempt to load a hex file with addresses outside the buffer range, the system will show where the hex data was encountered even though no bytes will be loaded. This is extremely helpful as it tells you where the data actually needs to be placed. With the information from the summary, you may use Option 3 to redefine the buffer base address to allow your hex file to actually be loaded.