error: L6236E: No section matches selector - no section to be FIRST/LAST.

[Salman]

I am trying to run the ble_app_beacon example code for board pca10040 but I am getting the following error

.\_build\nrf52832_xxaa.sct(7): error: L6236E: No section matches selector - no section to be FIRST/LAST.
Not enough information to list image symbols.
Not enough information to list load addresses in the image map.
Finished: 2 information, 0 warning and 1 error messages.
".\_build\nrf52832_xxaa.axf" - 1 Error(s), 0 Warning(s).
Target not created.
Build Time Elapsed: 00:00:41

What seems to be the issue?

[Salman]

Hi Vidar Berg I am already using the latest version of Nordic deviceFamilyPack 8.31.0. I have also tires to uninstall the install previous versions and then install the latest version again. But nothing happened.

Regarding the compiler_abstraction.h file I have attached the screen shot.

[Vidar Berg]

Hm, I get the exact same build errors if I comment out the definition of __UNUSED. Maybe the project uses the compiler_abstraction.h file distributed with the SDK instead. What SDK version are you currently using?

The header file is located in  \modules\nrfx\mdk\ if you're using a more recent SDK release.

[Salman]

I am using SDK 16.0.0

I checked the file path of compiler_abstraction.h file, its in "C:\Users\syeds\AppData\Local\Arm\Packs\NordicSemiconductor\nRF_DeviceFamilyPack\8.31.0\Device\Include"

[Vidar Berg]

Ok, both headers include this definition in SDK 16, so must be something else then. Can you check if your system_nrf52.c is identical to the one below?

/*

Copyright (c) 2009-2018 ARM Limited. All rights reserved.

    SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the License); you may
not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at

    www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
distributed under the License is distributed on an AS IS BASIS, WITHOUT
WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.

NOTICE: This file has been modified by Nordic Semiconductor ASA.

*/

/* NOTE: Template files (including this one) are application specific and therefore expected to
   be copied into the application project folder prior to its use! */

#include <stdint.h>
#include <stdbool.h>
#include "nrf.h"
#include "nrf_erratas.h"
#include "system_nrf52.h"

/*lint ++flb "Enter library region" */

#define __SYSTEM_CLOCK_64M      (64000000UL)


#if defined ( __CC_ARM )
    uint32_t SystemCoreClock __attribute__((used)) = __SYSTEM_CLOCK_64M;
#elif defined ( __ICCARM__ )
    __root uint32_t SystemCoreClock = __SYSTEM_CLOCK_64M;
#elif defined ( __GNUC__ )
    uint32_t SystemCoreClock __attribute__((used)) = __SYSTEM_CLOCK_64M;
#endif

void SystemCoreClockUpdate(void)
{
    SystemCoreClock = __SYSTEM_CLOCK_64M;
}

void SystemInit(void)
{
    /* Enable SWO trace functionality. If ENABLE_SWO is not defined, SWO pin will be used as GPIO (see Product
       Specification to see which one). */
    #if defined (ENABLE_SWO)
        CoreDebug->DEMCR |= CoreDebug_DEMCR_TRCENA_Msk;
        NRF_CLOCK->TRACECONFIG |= CLOCK_TRACECONFIG_TRACEMUX_Serial << CLOCK_TRACECONFIG_TRACEMUX_Pos;
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[18] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
    #endif

    /* Enable Trace functionality. If ENABLE_TRACE is not defined, TRACE pins will be used as GPIOs (see Product
       Specification to see which ones). */
    #if defined (ENABLE_TRACE)
        CoreDebug->DEMCR |= CoreDebug_DEMCR_TRCENA_Msk;
        NRF_CLOCK->TRACECONFIG |= CLOCK_TRACECONFIG_TRACEMUX_Parallel << CLOCK_TRACECONFIG_TRACEMUX_Pos;
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[14] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[15] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[16] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[18] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
        NRF_P0->PIN_CNF[20] = (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_H0H1 << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DRIVE_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Connect << GPIO_PIN_CNF_INPUT_Pos) | (GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Output << GPIO_PIN_CNF_DIR_Pos);
    #endif
    
    /* Workaround for Errata 12 "COMP: Reference ladder not correctly calibrated" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp */
    if (nrf52_errata_12()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40013540 = (*(uint32_t *)0x10000324 & 0x00001F00) >> 8;
    }
    
    /* Workaround for Errata 16 "System: RAM may be corrupt on wakeup from CPU IDLE" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp */
    if (nrf52_errata_16()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x4007C074 = 3131961357ul;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 31 "CLOCK: Calibration values are not correctly loaded from FICR at reset" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp */
    if (nrf52_errata_31()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x4000053C = ((*(volatile uint32_t *)0x10000244) & 0x0000E000) >> 13;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 32 "DIF: Debug session automatically enables TracePort pins" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp */
    if (nrf52_errata_32()){
        CoreDebug->DEMCR &= ~CoreDebug_DEMCR_TRCENA_Msk;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 36 "CLOCK: Some registers are not reset when expected" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_36()){
        NRF_CLOCK->EVENTS_DONE = 0;
        NRF_CLOCK->EVENTS_CTTO = 0;
        NRF_CLOCK->CTIV = 0;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 37 "RADIO: Encryption engine is slow by default" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_37()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x400005A0 = 0x3;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 57 "NFCT: NFC Modulation amplitude" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_57()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40005610 = 0x00000005;
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40005688 = 0x00000001;
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40005618 = 0x00000000;
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40005614 = 0x0000003F;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 66 "TEMP: Linearity specification not met with default settings" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_66()){
        NRF_TEMP->A0 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A0;
        NRF_TEMP->A1 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A1;
        NRF_TEMP->A2 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A2;
        NRF_TEMP->A3 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A3;
        NRF_TEMP->A4 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A4;
        NRF_TEMP->A5 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.A5;
        NRF_TEMP->B0 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B0;
        NRF_TEMP->B1 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B1;
        NRF_TEMP->B2 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B2;
        NRF_TEMP->B3 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B3;
        NRF_TEMP->B4 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B4;
        NRF_TEMP->B5 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.B5;
        NRF_TEMP->T0 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.T0;
        NRF_TEMP->T1 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.T1;
        NRF_TEMP->T2 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.T2;
        NRF_TEMP->T3 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.T3;
        NRF_TEMP->T4 = NRF_FICR->TEMP.T4;
    }

    /* Workaround for Errata 108 "RAM: RAM content cannot be trusted upon waking up from System ON Idle or System OFF mode" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_108()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *)0x40000EE4ul = *(volatile uint32_t *)0x10000258ul & 0x0000004Ful;
    }
    
    /* Workaround for Errata 136 "System: Bits in RESETREAS are set when they should not be" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_136()){
        if (NRF_POWER->RESETREAS & POWER_RESETREAS_RESETPIN_Msk){
            NRF_POWER->RESETREAS =  ~POWER_RESETREAS_RESETPIN_Msk;
        }
    }
    
    /* Workaround for Errata 182 "RADIO: Fixes for anomalies #102, #106, and #107 do not take effect" found at the Errata document
       for your device located at https://infocenter.nordicsemi.com/index.jsp  */
    if (nrf52_errata_182()){
        *(volatile uint32_t *) 0x4000173C |= (0x1 << 10);
    }
    
    /* Enable the FPU if the compiler used floating point unit instructions. __FPU_USED is a MACRO defined by the
     * compiler. Since the FPU consumes energy, remember to disable FPU use in the compiler if floating point unit
     * operations are not used in your code. */
    #if (__FPU_USED == 1)
        SCB->CPACR |= (3UL << 20) | (3UL << 22);
        __DSB();
        __ISB();
    #endif

    /* Configure NFCT pins as GPIOs if NFCT is not to be used in your code. If CONFIG_NFCT_PINS_AS_GPIOS is not defined,
       two GPIOs (see Product Specification to see which ones) will be reserved for NFC and will not be available as
       normal GPIOs. */
    #if defined (CONFIG_NFCT_PINS_AS_GPIOS)
        if ((NRF_UICR->NFCPINS & UICR_NFCPINS_PROTECT_Msk) == (UICR_NFCPINS_PROTECT_NFC << UICR_NFCPINS_PROTECT_Pos)){
            NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Wen << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NRF_UICR->NFCPINS &= ~UICR_NFCPINS_PROTECT_Msk;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Ren << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NVIC_SystemReset();
        }
    #endif

    /* Configure GPIO pads as pPin Reset pin if Pin Reset capabilities desired. If CONFIG_GPIO_AS_PINRESET is not
      defined, pin reset will not be available. One GPIO (see Product Specification to see which one) will then be
      reserved for PinReset and not available as normal GPIO. */
    #if defined (CONFIG_GPIO_AS_PINRESET)
        if (((NRF_UICR->PSELRESET[0] & UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Msk) != (UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Connected << UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Pos)) ||
            ((NRF_UICR->PSELRESET[1] & UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Msk) != (UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Connected << UICR_PSELRESET_CONNECT_Pos))){
            NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Wen << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NRF_UICR->PSELRESET[0] = 21;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NRF_UICR->PSELRESET[1] = 21;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NRF_NVMC->CONFIG = NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Ren << NVMC_CONFIG_WEN_Pos;
            while (NRF_NVMC->READY == NVMC_READY_READY_Busy){}
            NVIC_SystemReset();
        }
    #endif

    SystemCoreClockUpdate();
}


/*lint --flb "Leave library region" */

[Salman]

Yes both are same.

You mentioned before that the project might using the compiler_abstraction.h file distributed with the SDK instead. Is this the issue? I checked the include paths for the following files and the paths are to the SDK files.

[Vidar Berg]

It shouldn't be an issue since you are using SDK 16. Both headers include the required symbol definitions. Please try the project attached below and see if you get the same build error. It builds without errors here and it would be interesting to see if you got the same result.

ble_app_blinky_keil.zip

Extract to \nRF5_SDK_16.0.0_98a08e2\examples\ble_peripheral\ before compiling. 

[Salman]

I am getting the following errors

Why is the path not from the SDK folder?

[Vidar Berg]

Good question. Mine are installed to C:\Keil_v5 and files such as system_nrf52.c are automatically imported to the /RTE folder adjacent to the project file. What version of uVision are you using?  I'm testing with v5.29.0 here. Have you tried to see if you can build the Keil4 project?

[Salman]

Should I change the path and try again? 

I am using Keil v5.29.0

I tried to build keil 4 project on keil 5 but it is giving me around 47 errors.

[Vidar Berg]

Can you try  to replace the  __UNUSED symbols  with __attribute__((unused)) in the nrfxx_erratas.h files you have in located C:\Users\syeds\AppData\Local\Arm\Packs\NordicSemiconductor\nRF_DeviceFamilyPack\8.31.0\Device\Include\ to confirm it's not related to the symbol definition in compiler abstraction? I don't see any other possible reasons as to why you are getting this build error. Maybe I'm overlooking something obvious.

[Salman]

It worked after I changed "__UNUSED " to "__attribute__((unused))" in the following files

nrf51_erratas.h

nrf52_erratas.h

nrf53_erratas.h

nrf91_erratas.h

any reason why this happened?

[Vidar Berg]

Thanks for confirming that it worked. The problem doesn't make sense to me because you already had the __UNUSED symbol defined in your compiler_abstraction.h header.  The only thing I can think of is that Keil for some reason is including an outdated version of it (older packs versions did not include this symbol). You can inspect the include headers as shown below and verify that they all have this symbol.