.text section too large – How to reduce flash usage in nRF52833 (SES + SDK)?

[Suryalakshmi]

I am using nRF52833 PCA10100 board. While trying to run sample ble code in segger embedded studio, I am frequently facing this error which says, .text file is larger than specified size. What should I do? The nrf5sdk already have less example code for pca10100, even blinky is not available. When I try with the available sample code like ble-uart, this error is happening.

[Hung Bui]

Hi, 

Have you managed to run any BLE example made for PCA10100 ? For example the ble_app_uart ? Did you make any modification ? 

When I build the ble_app_uart for PCA10100 I have this memory result: 

So there still lots of space in the flash and the text area is not occupied much. You may have to double check if there is any wrong configuration. 

The flash size of the nRF52833 is limited (512kB) so you may want to consider using S113 softdevice (which is smaller size than S140) if the flash size is not enough. 

[Suryalakshmi]

Hi, Thank you for responding. Since normal blinky was not available for PCA10100, I tried with the ble_app_uart itself. There were some error saying unknown type name'_ printf_tag.ptr' which was in this line

 int __putchar(int ch, __printf_tag_ptr tag_ptr)

So I removed it. After that in 'retarget.c ' another error came which was for an unterminated #if, I added a #endif to remove the error. After that this error started. I first tried with s140 but then changed to s113 for reducing the size. But still the error persists.

[Suryalakshmi]

I opened both of them. The code is actually same for both. The difference is only in the preprocessor definition. Rest are all same. I tried building both of them and I see the same error.

Everytime I am building, I see new error. I have a doubt, even if it's the memory issue, shouldn't it occur during flashing. These errors are coming while building itself. I haven't been able to built any project. Can you tell me step by step how you build and flash the program. Maybe I am making error in steps

[Suryalakshmi]

Hello, Can you please tell me what I should do? There are very less information about this particular PCA board in the internet.

[Hung Bui]

Hi, 
Have you compared the 
ble_app_uart_pca10056_s140.emProject
ble_app_uart_pca10100_s140.emProject 

Please show the difference. 

Please show how you implement these modification into ble_app_blinky_pca10056_s140.emProject 

[Suryalakshmi]

This is the ble_app_uart_pca10056_s140.emProject.

This is the ble_app_uart_pca10100_s140.emProject.

The code for both is same. Only the board definition, target device and the related files changes.  I haven't made the changes. Sir, my main issue is this particular error, which comes when I try to build.

[Hung Bui]

Hi, 
No I want you to compare the file. Not opening it with SES. 
Please use a text editor to open the file, not SES. Then use a compare tool to compare the 2 files. 
You can use online tool, for example https://text-compare.com/

[Suryalakshmi]

How can I compare files? It doesn't show any software. When I click. It directly opens in segger.

And I could only compare the code

It shows they are same.

[Hung Bui]

You should use a text editor to open the file .emProject file
For example you can use Notepad to open the files and copy the content then paste the content to the compare tool.

[Suryalakshmi]

I got this one... How can I show you all of it completely? I tried open it in notepad  a lot of time. It just happened now.

[Hung Bui]

Hi, 
You don't have to show me completely. It's your job to look at the difference and try to understand why there is a modification and apply the same modification to the ble_app_blinky_pca10056_s140.emProject to make it work with PCA10100. This way you can convert any project made for PCA10056 to work on PCA10100. 
Please use unmodified project file to compare, don't use modified one. 
For example here how it looks when I compare: 

Try to modify the ble_app_blinky_pca10056_s140.emProject with the same modification showed in the compare. 

[Suryalakshmi]

Hi,  I have compared both files and edited the ble_app_blinky_pc10056_S140.emProject...

  

Should I run it in segger now?