Matrix user forums

Hi
I received from Friday the Flowkit that i ordered. I did the installation for first time in a PC under WinXP x64 OS. The installation went OK (although is not presented any of the windows that shows the manual of HP299 FlowKit) the Flowkit it is Plug & Play and its drivers are found only in the ELSAM v2.3 CDrom which is shipped together with the other parts in the package. After the installation, i checked in the device manager of Windows and the Flowkit is presented as a separate "Custom USB Device" with the name "Flowkit". It is not found under the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" directory. I checked the "Flowkit" and the Windows message it is that "this device is working properly". I checked in the Driver panel which shows "Matrix FlowKit" and in the Driver Details which shows "C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\mchpusb64.sys". Also, i unchecked the tick box which allows the Windows to shut down automatically the Device. After this, i did a first check directly with the PPPv.3 (the version installed is v3.11.15.30) and unfortunatelly i received the following messages: a) In the Help-->About window "no USB programmer connected" b) In the Options-->Options menu when i click OK i receive an Information window that says "USB cable is not connected - Continue?" After this, i tried thru the Flowcode v4.3 according to the instructions of Flowkit manual. In the Project Options window, i sellected as target "ECIO40" and i ticked the ICD box. Then, in the workspace appears the icon of a P18F4455 chip. Without adding something in flowchart (i.e. only BEGIN and END exists by default) i tried to start the flowchart simulation by pressing the RUN blue arrow. The red LEDS of FlowKit started to glowing slowly, and i received an error message which says "ICD has failed to communicate with the target". By pressing the button of more informations, i received a new message "first line is what it should be" followed by two lines of some HEX characters and that i may search in the forum for ICD problems.
Because i am very methodical, i decided to try the FlowKit in other PC under WinXP 32bit OS with other USB cable as well. I did exactly the same things as previously, and i got exactly the same errors. BTW, it seems that either the Flowcode v4.3 or the FlowKit, they work in the same way under 32 or 64 bit OS.
Of course i tried and with an external target board including simply a P16F877 with or without oscillator, but nothing again. During this, i discovered a very unpleasant thing which as i think it should be examined in a new topic.
I am in waiting of your help.
Thanks
Fotios Anagnostou

That is the error message that i received from Flowcode when i try to compile in the chip thru FlowKit:

File name: C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents\Flowcode1.c
Generated by: Flowcode v4.3.7.63
Date: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 13:40:45
Licence: Professional
Registered to: FOTIOS ANAGNOSTOU


http://www.matrixmultimedia.com


Launching the compiler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V4\BoostC\boostc.pic16.flowcode.exe -v -t PIC16F877 "Flowcode1.c"

....................
Return code = 0

Launching the linker/assembler...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V4\BoostC\boostlink.pic.exe -ld "C:\Program Files (x86)\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V4\BoostC\lib" libc.pic16.lib flowcode.pic16.lib rand.pic16.lib float.pic16.lib "Flowcode1.obj" -t PIC16F877 -d "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\My Documents" -p "Flowcode1"

Return code = 0

Launching the programmer...
C:\Program Files (x86)\Matrix Multimedia\Flowcode V4\tools\PPP\PPPv3.exe -cs 2 -chip PIC16F877 -nogui "Flowcode1.hex"

......................
Return code = 1

Flowcode was unable to transfer the flowchart to the microcontroller. Check the programmer options and physical connections.

FINISHED

PPP only works with our HP488 and EB006 boards.

The FlowKIT is not a programmer and cannot be used as such. The target chip must be programmed and running to allow the FlowKIT to debug your program.

The EB006 features both the programming and the ICD functionality.

Thanks!
If i knew it, then i had to proceed in purchase of EB006-v7. I haven't any programmer compatible with PPP. I was based on the reply of Steve to proceed in the purchase of FlowKit:
http://www.matrixmultimedia.com/mmforum ... 384#p18695
Is there the posibility to i exchange the FlowKit with an EB006-v7? The difference is only 1 GBP more and the shipping cost.
Please advise me.

Regards
Fotios Anagnostou

Hello Fotios

Yes you should be able to return and exchange your FlowKIT device for a EB006.

You said on the other forum topic that you were using microchips ICD2 to program your devices. This is still possible and you can then go on to ICD using the FlowKIT.

If you decide you do want to use the EB006 rather then using your ICD2 then you will need to ring us and confirm the return. Our number is available from the contact us page on our website.

Many thanks Benj
You are very kind. Yes, i tried to open with ICD2 the Flowcode generated files in hex format, and to program some PICs with success. The target mcu is working in all cases. But this is a time consumpting proccess.
To this i can confirm the return by now. By any way i need a programming tool ready for Flowcode and PPP. I need the EB006-v7. The parts of FlowKit package are in best state.
The only problem that i have it is, although i can write in English i can't speek the same well. I am as well a little heavy in hearing. Can i post the confirmation of return with e-mail instead phone call? And in which address? In the "sales@---" or in the "support@---"?
Please advise me.

Fotios

Hello Fotios,

Please contact me via the support@ email and I will confirm your return.

Many thanks.