HCS12(X) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

On this page we try to answer some of the questions people ask us the most. Check here for a regularly updated list of the frequently asked questions about our products. If you don't find the answer to your query below and require further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Contents:

1. How to find out the version of the currently installed Processor Expert?
2. How to install update package?
3. What is a speed mode?
4. How to obtain evaluation licence for CodeWarrior?
5. How to install PE 2.94 Service Pack for CW12 Development Studio 3.1?
6. How to install PE V2.94.01 Patch for CW12 Development Studio 3.1?
7. I am experiencing problems with compiling a project containing FreescaleCAN bean after I have updated Processor Expert to the latest version.
8. The method GetVal() of the BitIO bean returns values other than 0 or 1.
9. Where a revision history of Processor Expert and Embedded Beans can be found?

1. How to find out the version of the currently installed Processor Expert?

The version information is available in the 'About' dialog that can be invoked using the menu command 'Help | Processor Expert | About Processor Expert'.

Figure 1 - Example of the About Dialog

2. How to install update package?

• ensure that the package is for you version of Processor Expert. For example the 'Processor Expert 2.92.02 patch' is a patch number 2 for the Processor Expert version 2.92.
• the bean update package file must have extension *.PEupd. If the extension is different, please follow the installation instructions for the package.
• start any Processor Expert project in CodeWarrior (or create a new one)
• from the CodeWarrior main menu select: "Processor Expert | Update | Update Processor Expert from Package..."
• enter path and name to downloaded update file
• Processor Expert shows you information about update contents
• on dialog "Proceed update?" click Yes
• then the update is automatically executed
• After successful installation of update package reload actual project or restartProcessor Expert

3. What is a speed mode?

There are some reasons to change MCU clock rate in the application, for example because of a lower power supply. Processor Expert support up to three different speed modes (in the CPU bean setting). The speed modes can be switched in runtime without any affect to the timing of beans. It is possible to select main prescaler value, sub-clock mode and PLL settings for each of them (if supported) in the CPU bean:

• High speed mode - this mode is selected after reset and must be enabled in the project. This speed mode must be the fastest mode of the CPU.
• Low speed mode - this mode is usually for another PLL or main prescaler settings.
• Slow speed mode - this mode is usually used for sub-clock mode of the CPU. This mode must be the slowest mode of the CPU.

Timed beans which depends on the MCU clock (such as timer, communication and conversion beans), may support speed modes defined in the CPU bean (in EXPERT view level). The Processor Expert allows the user to set closest values for the bean timing in all speed modes (if possible). If the requested timing is not supported by the bean, for example if the MCU clock is too low for the correct function of the bean, the bean can be disabled for the appropriate speed mode.

The mode can be switched in the runtime by a CPU method. The bean timing is then automatically configured for the appropriate speed mode or the bean is disabled (according to the setting).

More information about the speed modes can be found in the Processor Expert help.

4. How to obtain evaluation licence for CodeWarrior?

To get a free evaluation licence for CodeWarrior, run the 'Register CodeWarrior' shortcut created by the installation script and contact license@metrowerks.com.

5. How to install PE 2.94 Service Pack for CW12 Development Studio 3.1?

PE 2.94 Service Pack for CW Development Studio v3.1 for Freescale HCS12
(Metrowerks servicepack CW12_V3_1_PE_V2.94_SP.exe)

Installation instructions:

1. Download Processor Expert V2.94 Service Pack for CW12 V3.1 and install it.
   Note: Processor Expert will now be installed at the root of your CodeWarrior installation. If there are other versions of Processor Expert installed in other locations, only the version at the root will be used.
2. If you have your projects, beans or templates in other Processor Expert location than the root one
   (e.g. \bin\Plugins\Support\ProcessorExpert), you should copy this files (subdirs) to the version location at the root.

6. How to install PE V2.94.01 Patch for CW12 Development Studio 3.1?

Installation instructions:

1. Please note: This pack should *ONLY* be installed on top of a previous installation of the PE 2.94 service pack, named "CW12_V3_1_PE_V2_94_SP.exe" !
2. Download Processor Expert V2.94.01 Patch for CW12 V3.1 and install it.

7. I am experiencing problems with compiling a project containing FreescaleCAN bean after I have updated Processor Expert to the latest version.

The interface of the bean had to be changed a bit to allow full usage of the CAN device and to make message filtering easier to setup. Please see the following list of the changes in the CAN bean interface between PE 2.92 (CodeWarrior 2.92) and PE 2.95 (CodeWarrior 2.95):

1. Extended frames support added in the method SendFrame to allow sending of extended frames with any message ID. An example can be found in the bean's documentation. This change can affect an existing user code in case of messages with ID > 2047 that were in previous version treated automatically as extened frames. Now the Extended message ID is specified as (ID | CAN_EXTENDED_FRAME_ID) otherwise is treated as standard.
2. New parameter has been added to the methods Set/Get..Acceptance..Code/Mask to support initialization of the second half of the code/mask register blocks. This change may affect an existing user's code. To keep the same functionality, user should specify the value of second parameter same as the value of the first one.
3. Initialization sequence of the CAN register, according to properties Acceptance Code and Acceptance Mask, has been changed. The ordering of the bytes in these properties was reversed to correspond with byte ordering within the MessageID. Please see details in Acceptance Code and Acceptance mask properties hint/help. This change may affect an existing user code.

8. The method GetVal() of the BitIO bean returns values other than 0 or 1.

This behaviour is correct. Please notice that TRUE value for boolean type is defined in ANSI-C as any non-zero value. Thus, user shouldn't rely on numerical value of the TRUE with boolean type. The result of the GetVal() method can be directly used as ordinary C boolean value in commands like if or while but the statements like (MyBit_GetVal() == TRUE) are incorrect. This limitation is useful because it allows Processor Expert and compiler to generate faster and shorter code in most common situations. The expression ((Bit1_GetVal())?(byte)1:(byte)0) can be used in application code to get numerical values (0/1) if it is necessary.

9. Where a revision history of Processor Expert and Embedded Beans can be found?

The changes influencing the whole Processor Expert or changing bean's behavior or interface can be found in ReadMe.txt file in ProcessorExpert directory. This file can be easily opened using the menu command Help - Processor Expert - View Read Me.
A detailed revisions for every bean is available using a command View Installed Beans Overview. The BeanInfo and DriverInfo options in View menu need to be set to FULL and the revision text is available after placing the mouse cursor on the revision.
The description of changes done in each Processor Expert patch are described within the patch description.

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