System Workbench for STM32

In a command prompt, you can get the usage with -help:

C:\...flasher>ac6_stm32flash.exe 
Usage ac6-stm32-flash [options] [-loader filename] [-binary filename]
Options :
        -prog                    Program the connected STM32 target
        -erasesector                     Erase the sectors of the STM32 target
        -erasechip                       Erase the STM32 target
        -erasechip                       Erase the STM32 target
        Required option to program :
        -loader                        Pass the algorithm loader
        -binary                        Pass the binary file

(and yes, the -erasechip line is duplicated!)
For example, to program an F429 with the LCD16.bin code in D:\bins:

C:\...flasher>stm32flash.exe -prog -loader algo\stm32f4xx.bin -binary D:\bins\LCD16.bin
ST-Link opened
INIT ... running
PROGRAMING ... start
progress:25%
progress:50%
progress:75%
PROGRAMING ... done
UNIT ... running
status = 1
Done

Hope this helps,
newbrain

Thank you for your help.
An other question :
What is the difference between -loader and -binary ?
My software doesn't have a loader in the STM32.
Is that command is right if I don't use a loader in the STM32 :
stm32flash.exe -erasechip -erasechip -prog -binary D:\bins\LCD16.bin

I want to use this command in Eclipse External tools.

Regards

You're welcome,
I'll try to answer for as much as I know, that being not much: consider that I downloaded System Workbench just yesterday...

As far as I can understand, the loader contains the chip-specific flashing algorithm; the flasher complains if you don't use that option.
All the needed loaders should be in the algo directory, so if you are using e.g. an STM32F4xx, you specify -loader algo\stm32f4xx.bin and so on for other µC.
I suppose bad things can happen if the wrong loader is used (or maybe not, but I won't try on the single board I have 😉).

The note about -erasechip was simply to state that the -help option prints that line twice, for whatever reason. I don't think you need to specify it twice, and I do not know whether you can combine more than one command on a single line (-prog and -erasechip), as I only tried the -help (just a lucky guess) and then the -prog options.

HTH,
newbrain

Good idea adding it to external tools.

This batch file might help:

@echo off

set flasherdir=your path to the flasher

set binfile=%~dpn1.bin
set binname=%~n1.bin

cd %flasherdir%

if exist %binfile% (
echo Starting to flash %binname%
ac6_stm32flash.exe -erasesector -loader algo\stm32f4xx.bin
ac6_stm32flash.exe -prog -loader .\algo\stm32f4xx.bin -binary %binfile%
echo Resetting board
ac6_stm32reset.exe
) else (
echo Cannot find bin file: %binname%
)

exit

Save the script to, say, "flash.bat", and put its full path+name in the "Location:" field of the ext.tool run configuration.
Use whatever you prefer as working directory.
For the "Arguments:" field, click "Variables..." button, and choose "selected_resource_loc".

To use it to flash a .bin you just need to click on any .elf or .bin file in the project explorer to select it and then run the tool by clicking the External tools button.
The batch script tries to change the extension to .bin; if the file is found, it first partly erase the flash, then flash the binary and finally resets the board.

It works for me, but YMMV.
If your target board catches fire, your cat is teleported to Mars or you start speaking ancient tongues, I take no responsibility!

Hello,

Thank you very much, I will test this script.
I will post the result of my test.

Have a nice day !
Regards
Gerald HILD

Hi,
I downloaded and Installed a install_sw4stm32_win_32bits-v1.0.exe, but I can't locate the ac6_stm32flasher.exe file. Was it excluded from current release ? From where I can download it ?

Also I wolud like to know what I need to change in Project Propperties to force eclipse generation of intel hex files ?

Hi,

1-
The "ac6_stm32flasher.exe" ($ECLIPSE_HOME/plugins/fr.ac6.mcu.externaltools.win32.xxxx/tools/flasher) is an obselete tool. It does not support all the boards.

For now, we recommend you to launch the debug to program your chip or to download and to use "STM32 ST-LINK Utility" (at http://www.st.com/web/en/catalog/tools/PF258168).
We are currently working on a new feature to program/erase the chip from the Windows and Unix-based systems versions.

2-
To generate an intel hex file, you need to change the post-build command.
Select the project > Properties > C/C++ Build > Settings > Build Steps
Then replace the command by :
arm-none-eabi-objcopy -O ihex "${BuildArtifactFileBaseName}.elf" "${BuildArtifactFileBaseName}.hex"

Kevin.

Posted by dautrevaux on 2016-06-06 19:14

Hi everybody,

If you use the latest version of System Workbench for STM32, the simplest way to flash a program to your board (assuming you are able to debug programs running on your board) is to right-ck=lick on your project then Target >> Program chip...; a dialog will allow you to select the ELF executable you want to download and voilà...

Bernard (Ac6)

Hello!

I have a question about "Target -> program chip/erase chip". I had this function in my "ac6 workbench for STM32" recently I was already using it and it worked fine. Now suddenly it's missing... I didn't reinstall my workbench or anything... Do you have any idea why is that so and how to solve it (maybe in settings somewhere?)

Best regards,
Jure

Posted by cartu38 on 2018-01-26 10:31

Hello kembl2101,

According your shared snapshots, you're not relying on latest sw4stm32 release.

Such Target menu lack issue is a well known one. It happens only within sw4stm32 September release. Such has been fixed shortly at that time. See http://www.openstm32.org/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?threadId=5694

Definitively recommended way to flash target Thanks IDE are Target > Program chip ... and Target < Erase chip ... shortcuts.

My advice would be so to initiate some of your sw4stm32 instance update.

Feel free to share outcomes.
Br.

this happened to me. i was not getting target in the menu.
i had selected to open something in Navigator early in the day. that opens up a pane right in the same area as the project... and does not allow you to flash. close the navigator tab if it's there.

when you right click and select to view an item in the navigator, that's what triggers the problem.