Getting Started

Knowledge

For those not familiar with Forth we would advise you start with one of the books in the Appendix. For those with some familiarity, the Win32for introduction offers further information

Requirements

- IBM-PC with Windows95/98 or NT

- 16Mb of RAM

- COM1: Serial Port

- Hard Disk

- Mouse

Target system with a +3.3V power source of at least 15 mA capability to power the ISP serial programmer.

The ISP must be connected to a serial port before running IRTC.

The Target MSP needs a 32KHz xtal to control the DCO clock to 3.68MHz to generate the correct 38400 baudrate.

Hard Disk Installation

Place the IRTC CD in the CD drive and run the Setup program found in the Win32For directory. The setup wizard will install Win32Forth on to your hard drive in the directory of your choice. The default is C:\Win32For.

Next copy the contents of the IRTC directory on the CD to your Win32For directory. This will give you the IRTC version of Win32For, RAMFMSP and the demo extensions.

If you wish to have a shortcut to a particular MSP430 device on your desktop select RAMFMSP.EXE file and use 'Send to Desktop as Shortcut' to create. You will need to edit the Shortcut command line to include an FLOAD MSPxxxx.INI for the device you are using, see below.

To run IRTC either select from a shortcut or run from RAMMSP.EXE file in the Win32For\MSP430 directory. e.g.

  RAMFMSP.EXE FLOAD MSP430F121.INI

IRTC will then load for the MSP430F121.

Floppy Disk Use

It is not practicle to run Win32For or IRTC from floppy disks unless the LS120 format is used.

However, it is quite practicle to use the floppy disk to retain the application source code and to compile directly from the floppy.

Connecting the Interactive Serial Programmer

The ISP is connected to your IBM® compatible computers serial port, COM1. IRTC sets the port configuration to 38400 baud 8 bits two-stop-bits and no-parity. The ISP 9 way D-type connector is then plugged into your computer port or via a cable.

The header on the ISP is plugged into a pin header on your Target hardware. The Target powers the ISP via the power pins from your Target. See ISP description.

The Target MSP needs a 32KHz xtal to control the DCO clock to 3.68MHz to generate the correct 38400 baudrate.

Configuration File Win32for.CFG

This file configures Win32for when it loads up. You may find in necessary to change Win32for .CFG still further to reflect different directories, or any other set-up characteristic you prefer. These are all accomplished with the editor WinView. Refer to the Win32for files for further information.

For MSP430 Target configuration in MSP430 xxxx.INI, see Target Configuration.

MSP430 Configuration

IRTC is modified by the .INI file to reflect the properties of the MSP430 device chosen. IRTC is extended by MTMSPxxxx.F and the functions not appropriate to the device are marked as 'NOT Available'. IRTC considers the MSP430F121 to be the default device.

New MSP430 xxxx.INI files may be edited in WinView to specify new devices as they become available. Existing .INI files may be used as a template and new .INI files will be available on the web site as required

Loading your MSP430 with TLM

IRTC runs the ISP in two modes, Programming and Interactive Communication. The serial programming mode is as described in the TI Bootstrap Loader application note, SLAA096, the interactive communications uses the same pins, P1.1, P2.2, RST/NMI and TEST. The serial communication of the ISP is, 38400 baud 8 N 2 for development, and 9600 baud 8 E 1 for bootload. For the interactive mode to operate a small program, the Target Link Monitor, must first be programmed into the MSP Flash code space. An image of this is created by MTMSPxxx.F at load time and this must first be programmed into your device before development may begin.

To do this you must first load IRTC with the appropriate .INI file. A TIHEX file of the image may then be created with TLM-FILE which generates MSPTLM.HEX. It is then necessary to close IRTC and run the TLM.BAT from the MSP430 directory which uses the TI BSLDEMO.EXE program to load the MSPTLM.HEX file into the MSP430 Flash after erasing the device.

When successful the MSP430 will now be ready for development.

Changing Processor

Once loaded it is NOT possible to change the MSP430 type selection without restarting IRTC with another .INI file.

Keyboard Macros

A set of keyboard macros are pre-set when IRTC is invoked. The following keys are defined as;

?REM is defined as the Ctrl+R

HOST is Ctrl+Shft+H

REPROGRAM is Ctrl+Shft+D

VERIFY is Ctrl+Shft+V

.STATISTICS is Ctrl+S

NOTE: These functions are also available from a pop-up generated by a right mouse click.

 

Contents