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Need help loading .bin to RAM — Parallax Forums

Need help loading .bin to RAM

second to funsecond to fun Posts: 5
edited 2013-01-27 18:09 in General Discussion
Hello,

I recently got the P8X32A quickstart board as part of a custom kit called the Pocket Mini Computer. (http://propellerpowered.com/shop/?page_id=234) As you can see, this kit includes the quickstart board loaded with a BASIC interpreter. However, when I ordered the kit and put it together nothing would seem to work, and the VGA screen it was connected to stayed blank. I talked it over with Jeff, the guy who made the kit, and he said to use the propeller tool in order to re-install a version of BASIC onto the board. However, when I use the tool and try to load the binary(which shows up as "PK0 0 0" in the main panel) The tool gives an error which says "Cannot compile, no top file selected" and I cannot find how to select the file as such. I have tried to run tests to see if the propeller tool was compatible with windows 8, and it found no problems. Please help,

- A newbie

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2013-01-27 15:53
    In the left hand window, near the bottom, there's a drop-down list to select the file type. Make sure .bin or .binary is selected, then select the binary file by double clicking on it. You'll get the Object Info window and there's a Load RAM and Load EEPROM button at the bottom that will download the file either to RAM or RAM & EEPROM.

    Make sure the file you have is a .binary file.
  • second to funsecond to fun Posts: 5
    edited 2013-01-27 16:03
    Upon further examination, I realized that the zip folder contains .spin's, but when I try to select the spin option, it won't let me drag and drop.
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2013-01-27 16:19
    If there are only .spin files, then you'll have to compile the program. Unzip the archive so you get a folder and find the "top" spin file ... the main program for the Basic interpreter, then use that as the current or top file and compile to EEPROM
  • second to funsecond to fun Posts: 5
    edited 2013-01-27 16:23
    There is one COG file, which seems important because it says it is a driver.
  • kuronekokuroneko Posts: 3,623
    edited 2013-01-27 16:37
    Unzip the archive (BASIC2.2L ???). Load BASIC.spin into the Proptool. Right-click on the tab, set as top level object. Press F9/F10.

    These archives usually contain a README file which outlines the file/object structure.
  • second to funsecond to fun Posts: 5
    edited 2013-01-27 16:45
    The tool won't let me place a .spin file into the editor even when .spin is selected. As an error it says it can't find the source for "Untitled(Number of tries)"
  • kuronekokuroneko Posts: 3,623
    edited 2013-01-27 16:50
    second to fun wrote: »
    The tool won't let me place a .spin file into the editor even when .spin is selected. As an error it says it can't find the source for "Untitled(Number of tries)"
    Did you unzip the archive into a public area (drag and drop from within a ZIP archive doesn't work for the PropTool)? If drag and drop from a directory doesn't work either, have you tried the File->Open menu?

    It may well be a Win8 thing. Never had issues with its predecessors.
  • second to funsecond to fun Posts: 5
    edited 2013-01-27 17:00
    I am unable to load from the "open" menu unless the whole thing is a .zip(Which gets the error in the first place) Any ideas on how I can get each individual file into the main window and then select a top file? So apparently it needs to find a source file.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-01-27 18:09
    Like Mike and kuroneko said, you MUST unzip the files to the Proptool Library first. If you did this while the PropTool was open, close and then restart. I believe Windows 8 Extract feature is the same as Windows XP and 7. Right click the file and select "Extract All" and browse to the Library Folder.
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