.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]

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

  

Should I run it in segger now?

[Hung Bui]

Hi, 
Why ask me ? You should just go try and test. I am only giving you advice. You need to do the task to check if it works or not. 

[Suryalakshmi]

Hi,

I actually did run it in Segger and faced the same problem that I mentioned. It's showing .text section larger than specified. I even tried editing the linker script file but it automatically changes from the value I set to a smaller value. So I wanted to confirm that should I do some more changes before opening in segger. 

[Hung Bui]

Hi Suryalakshmi,

So did it work ? 
I did the compare and implement the changes into the blinky project file. Please try: 
https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/4/my_5F00_ble_5F00_app_5F00_blinky_5F00_pca10100_5F00_s140.emProject

[Suryalakshmi]

Hi,

When I tried your code some locations issues came even though I placed it in the pca10100 ble_app_blinky folder. So I compared your code with the mine and made changes. This is what happens when I run it.

The problem with linker script is that it changes to the older value as soon as I run the program. That why even when I increase the size of .text and .rodata, it still reset to the previous value and the error persists

[Suryalakshmi]

Hi...

 Right now, I was able to complete the build. It was the issue in the flash_placement.xml file.not the linker script and the other files. I changed the .text and .rodata values.  

Thank you for the help