nrf9160 DK - building and programming a sample application

[Mahendra Tailor]

Hi 

I have followed the all the instructions with regards to 'nRF9160 DK Getting Started' and all is fine until the stage "Building and testing a sample application" where I am encountering a problem at that stage "Programming a sample" and using the SES IDE to build and program an nRF Connect SDK sample.

I have reached the "Building and programming a sample application" stage at URL :-  https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/gs_programming.html

I can start the Segger Embedded Studio from the toolchain manager (don't know how to that any other way) and it always asks me about the segger licence even though I have entered one.

Then I do Select File -> Open nRF Connect SDK Project. and I see ...

As you can see the 'Board Name' field is empty and when I click on the drop down button in that field nothing happens.

When I click ok, the build fails because it does not know the board name.

It is frustrating that even following the instructions diligently I get to this brickwall.

I will be most grateful for some assistance.

In the meantime, I will uninstall everything and see if it behaves any differently - but that is a sign of madness :-)

Kind regards
Mahendra

[Didrik Rokhaug]

Hi.

In NCS v1.3 the names of the boards were changed.

You can see the list of the board names here: https://developer.nordicsemi.com/nRF_Connect_SDK/doc/latest/nrf/gs_programming.html#board-names

For the nRF91DK, the name is nrf9160dk_nrf9160.

Remember to choose the non-secure version of the board (the name ends on 'ns') if you want to use the modem.

Best regards,

Didrik

[Mahendra Tailor]

Hi again
I have just reinstalled it all and I can confirm that i still get an empty "Board Name" field and I cannot get the cursor in that field to even type anything. That dropbox does not do anything either

[Didrik Rokhaug]

Are you still using the nrf9160_pca10090 board folder?

Or did you change to the nrf9160dk_nrf9160 board folder?

[Mahendra Tailor]

I am confused with your question. I have never used Zephyr before.

I am literally following the getting started guide and in there there is no instruction about using any board folder.

Are you saying that there is a step missing in the guide that I need to go to a specific folder? If so it does not compute because I am hitting this roadblock in the SES IDE and given I have prior experience of that IDE I have been following your guide and that is where I see the screenshot I have provided when i started this thread.

[Didrik Rokhaug]

In your screenshot, the board directory is set to <your NCS folder>/v1.3.0/zephyr/boards/arm/nrf9160_pca10090.

Try to set it to <your NCS folder>/v1.3.0/zephyr/boards/arm/nrf9160dk_nrf9160 instead.

Looking through the guide, I can not see anywhere it says that you should choose nrf9160_pca10090.

Edit: This comment originally had a typo. I originally wrote "build directory", while I meant "build directory". This comment has been edited to fix the typo.

[Mahendra Tailor]

FYI
I have now created a new user account on my Win 10 Pro pc and I get the same problem there too.

I am now wasting too much time trying the same things and expecting a different outcome.

I will see if I can install manually as per your guide.

[Didrik Rokhaug]

Sorry, I see now that I had a typo in my last reply. I meant to say the board directory, not the build folder. Sorry for the confusion.

Have you tried to change the board directory?

Also, if you could point me to the place where it says that you should use the nrf9160_pca10090 directory, that would be of great help, as I can't seem to find it in the guide you linked.

[Mahendra Tailor]

Hi Didrik

You are a hero!

That solves the problem.

Simple and makes sense, but a brickwall if you are using it for the first time.

If you want I can post a new clean case with the screen shot and then you can answer similarly and I will respond that it works.

I bet there will be others who will see this problem too and having a clean case with the problem and solution will save you guys time when the next person hits the same wall.


Let me know and I will post a new case

Thank you once again.

PS
If it is of any help, I used to work at Laird and also has had to deal with support for 20 years and I know how frustrating it can be :-)