17.02.
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17.02.25, 08:23 GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
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GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
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I have some binary data that I want to convert to a C array to use in my application. What's the best way to do
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Software & Hardware Products (/product/) You may want to consider using the free srec_cat.exe utility which is available as Windows EXE file from
https://sourceforge.net/projects/srecord/files/srecord-win32 (https://sourceforge.net/projects/srecord/files/srecord-
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win32). It is part of the SRecord project hosted on sourceforge.net. With this utility, you can load one or multiple
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HEX or BINARY files and store the data into an C-source file as an initialized C const array.
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(/ulink/) srec_cat.exe with a command file. With the following command file MyBin2Const.cmd, srec_cat.exe reads the
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MyBinFile.bin -Binary # input file has binary format
Important information -o MyBinFile.c # output file name
-C-Array MyBinaryImage -INClude # generate C-array with the name MyBinaryImage
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17.02.25, 08:23 GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
const unsigned char MyBinaryImage[] =
{
0xFF, 0xFE, 0xFD, 0xFC, 0xFB, 0xFA, 0xF9, 0xF8, 0xF7, 0xF6, 0xF5, 0xF4,
0xF3, 0xF2, 0xF1, 0xF0, 0xEF, 0xEE, 0xED, 0xEC, 0xEB, 0xEA, 0xE9, 0xE8,
...
...
0x03, 0x02, 0x01, 0x00,
};
const unsigned long MyBinaryImage_termination = 0x00000000;
const unsigned long MyBinaryImage_start = 0x00000000;
const unsigned long MyBinaryImage_finish = 0x00000400;
const unsigned long MyBinaryImage_length = 0x00000400;
#define MYBINARYIMAGE_TERMINATION 0x00000000
#define MYBINARYIMAGE_START 0x00000000
#define MYBINARYIMAGE_FINISH 0x00000400
#define MYBINARYIMAGE_LENGTH 0x00000400
The generated C-source file MyBinFile.c can be added to the µVision project. The header file MyBinFile.h
contains the declarations for the two variables MyBinaryImage[] and MyBinaryImage_length and can be included
in other C-source files which need a reference to the binary data.
You can invoke srec_cat.exe from a Windows command prompt or Make tool:
srec_cat.exe @MyBin2Const.cmd
You can also invoke this tool after each project build/rebuild by specifying its invocation in the µVision dialog
Options for Target - User - After Build/Rebuild. You may use µVision key sequences
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17.02.25, 08:23 GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
For a full description of all srec_cat.exe parameters, refer to the SRecord Reference Manual
(http://srecord.sourceforge.net/srecord-1.64.pdf). Here are some options which are useful with Keil tools:
-Disable_Sequence_Warnings
This option suppresses a warning if records of the input Intel HEX file are not sorted in ascending address
order. HEX file generated by OH51 or OHX51 are not sorted in ascending address order.
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more about our collection, use and Only loads the specified address area from the previous input file. This option can be combined with -offset.
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Adds an address offset to the previous input file. Positive or negative values are allowed. This option can be
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-Intel
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consent to our cookies HEX file or an output file should be generated as an Intel HEX file.
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-Binary
Can be used after an input or output filename to specify that an input file should be interpreted as a binary
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17.02.25, 08:23 GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
-C-Array filename [-INClude]
Can be used after an output filename to specify that it should be generated as a C-source file with an
optional include file.
@CommandFile
A command file can contain some or all invocation parameters of srec_cat.exe. You can even use comments
starting with '#' extending to the end of the line.
MORE INFORMATION
Refer to SRecord Reference Manual (http://srecord.sourceforge.net/srecord-1.64.pdf)
Refer to Start External Tools
(http://www.keil.com/support/man/docs/uv4/uv4_ca_start_external_tools.htm) in the µVision User's
Guide.
Refer to Key Sequence for Tool Parameters
(http://www.keil.com/support/man/docs/uv4/uv4_ut_keysequence.htm) in the µVision User's Guide.
SEE ALSO
ARM: Include a Binary Image into an Application (http://www.keil.com/support/docs/3770.htm)
GENERAL: Converting HEX, Binary, etc. File Formats (http://www.keil.com/support/docs/4038.htm)
GENERAL: Intel HEX File Format (http://www.keil.com/support/docs/1584.htm)
ARMLINK: Generating Binary Output During a Build (http://www.keil.com/support/docs/3213.htm)
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17.02.25, 08:23 GENERAL: Creating C Files from Binary or Hex Data
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