Flash Downloader II
Windows 95 – User Guide
CONTENTS
Introduction
Installation
A Caution!
Operation
Reference
- First Time Use
Subsequent Use
- Select a COM Port
- COM Port Settings
- Gang Writing Option
- Download Mode Option
- Product Specification
- File Selection – Normal Download / Erase and Download modes
- File Selection – Patch mode
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Introduction
This is a Windows 95 program that downloads binary images to compatible Panasonic mobile phones via a standard COM port.It converts .ABS, S-record and binary files to 'release' or 'patch' files before downloading, or operates on release or patch files directly. It also operates on LZH files which are compressed versions of the same file types.
The program also operates with the Gang Writer to download batches of mobiles simultaneously.
This manual describes the installation and operation of WinMoDo. It also contains a reference section describing file formats and the program's file conversion support utilities.
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Installation
The downloader is installed by running Setup.exe. The setup program will install WinMoDo and place a new icon in the Program folder.
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A Caution!
The mobile download code is not protected against erasure and overwriting when using WinMoDo's Erase and Download option. If download fails, or an unsuitable image is downloaded, the mobile will lose its facility to be loaded via the serial port. The download procedure has been made as robust as possible such that, if accidents happen or mistakes are made, the download procedure may be restarted, provided the mobile is not powered off before a download completes successfully. If possible, use an uninterruptable power supply or fully charged batteries.
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Operation
The main window menus control the configuration and operation of WinMoDo.Option-specific help is available from the Help menu item.
During operation, the program will report the progress of the download and provide instructions where necessary.
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First Time Use
WinMoDo preserves its latest settings between downloads and between invocations, but some initial configuration is required, as described below.
Select a COM Port
Click on the Port menu item. This displays the available COM ports. Unavailable COM ports are greyed out. These indicate ports which are either physically not present, or are in use by other applications. Closing an application which is using a COM port will make the port available to WinMoDo. By default, COM1 is selected. You may click on any un-greyed port to change selection.COM Port Settings
The Port – Settings menu item displays a standard serial comms dialog box. Only the bit rate and the advanced settings are modifiable. The bit rate may be set to 19200, 38400, 57600 or 115200. 57600 is the default. A lower speed setting may be required for older serial communications hardware.Gang Writing Option
If you are using the Gang Writer, click on Options and check the Gang mode. This is essential to provide adequate delays to ensure all mobiles in the gang will respond correctly to download commands. If you are connecting a single mobile directly to the COM port, leave this option unchecked for slightly faster operation.Download Mode Option
Click on Options, Download Mode and then select the mode, one of:-
Normal Download This downloads new code and data to the mobile without overwriting the boot sector. Erase and Download This erases the entire flash and downloads new code and data, including the boot sector. Patch Patches specific areas of the flash. The selected download mode affects the File Selection process. See the File Selection sections.
Product Specification
If you are downloading using an absolute, s-record or binary image, you must specify a target mobile product or product variant. Click on Options – Product, and enter the product ID e.g. GD70, GD30 etc.File Selection – Normal Download / Erase and Download modes
This describes file selection and download when the download mode is set to either Normal Download or Erase and Download.Click on File – Open and Download. You will be presented with a standard open file dialog box. If you have a release (.REL) format file for downloading , opening the file will initiate download immediately.
If you do not have a release format file, WinMoDo will generate one from a suitable compressed, absolute, s-record or binary file. Open the required file. You will be prompted for a filespec for the release file to be created. WinMoDo will generate the release file and then download it. (Refer to the Reference section for information on file formats and file conversions.)
File Selection – Patch mode
This describes file selection and download when the download mode is set to Patch.Click on File – Open and Download. You will be presented with a standard open file dialog box. If you have a patch (.PCH) format file for downloading, opening the file will initiate a patch download immediately.
If you do not have a patch format file, WinMoDo will generate one from a suitable compressed, absolute, s-record, binary or release file, together with a suitable patch control file. Open the required files. You will be prompted for a filespec for the patch file to be created. WinMoDo will generate the patch file and then download it. (Refer to the Reference section for information on file formats and file conversions.)
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Subsequent Use
The latest download settings are preserved by WinMoDo between downloads and between invocations of the program. The Go! menu item immediately begins download using the current settings. If the current settings specify a file conversion, the current release or patch file will be updated before download commences.All configuration settings may be amended as described in the previous section.
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Reference
File Types
The following file formats are recognised by WinMoDo:
.ABS Absolute files .MOT, .SRE Motorola S-record files .BIN Binary files .REL Full Download release files. .PCH Patch release files .LZH LHA compressed versions of any of the above .PCF Patch control files
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Hardware Identification
.REL and .PCH files begin with a hardware identification header. This header is read by WinMoDo and compared with a hardware identifier transmitted by the mobile at the start of a download. If there is a mismatch, WinMoDo reports the problem and aborts download.
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Download Protocol Identification
Both WinMoDo and the mobile's download code contain download protocol version identification. If there is a mismatch between these applications, WinMoDo will report the problem and abort the download. WinMoDo's protocol version can be checked in Help – About. The protocol version is in the form 'DOWNLD' followed by two digits - the major and minor version numbers. Only the major version number is significant as far as compatibility is concerned.Version 0.x supports Erase and Download operations only
Version 1.x additionally supports Normal Download
Version 2.x additionally supports Patching
DOS Executables
The following executables are DOS programs which are called from WinMoDo.BAT, which is invoked by WinMoDo when file conversions are required. The DOS executables may be run independently as described below.
HEX470.EXE ABS to S-record conversion. See Texas Instruments TMS470R1x Assembly Language Tools, User's Guide, Hex Conversion Utility Description. MOT2BIN.EXE Motorola S-record to binary format converter. Usage MOT2BIN <input file spec> <output file spec> <storage size (in megabits)>
BIN2REL.EXE Binary file to release file converter. Places a hardware compatibility check header at the start of a copy of the binary file. Usage BIN2REL <input file spec> <output file spec> <hardware ID>
<hardware ID>, for example, should be GD70 for the GD70 mobile.
LHA.EXE File decompression. Invoke LHA with no parameters for information on usage. BIN2PCH.EXE Binary to patch file converter. Usage BIN2PCH <input file spec> <patch control file> <output file spec> <hardware ID>
<hardware ID>, for example, should be GD70 for the GD70 mobile.
REL2PCH.EXE Release to patch file converter. Usage REL2PCH
Batch and Other Support Files
WinMoDo.BAT Batch file invoked by WinMoDo for controlling the file conversion process. The supplied file deletes all intermediate files, but preserves the initial source files. The batch file may be customised for your specific requirements. HEX470.CMD Command file for HEX470 WinMoDo.CFG Stores the WinMoDo's current operational parameters. Patch Control File Format
A patch control file is a text file with extension .PCF. It consists of any number of lines of the formsource_offset destination_addess length
where each expression is a value, expressed in hexadecimal digits, from 0 to FFFFFFFE.
e.g.
00001000 00001000 00000100
00000200 0000F200 00000200Leading zeroes are optional.
Each line specifies the mapping of a section of a binary image to an area of flash where:
source_offset is the offset within the binary image of the start of a section to be downloaded, destination_address is the address in flash where the target data section starts, length is the size of the section. The file may include blank lines and additional whitespace characters and '//' prefixed comments (C++ style).
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