Compiled Sketch of Arduino Nano

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hello,
I have a question about the compiled sketch of the Nano.

After the sketch is compiled on the IDE, in the build directory I see multiple files and directories.

Some of them are

<script_name>.nfo.hex,

<script_name>.ino.with_bootloader.hex

<script_name>.ino.with_bootloader.bin

My question is: Which of these files are actually uploaded to the Nano? Which file is actually executed on the Nano?

2

The .hex file is always uploaded to the Arduino. But where did you find the other files? Int he same location or in a different location?

3

If you enable "verbose output during upload" in the IDE under file->preferences, you can see which file is actually uploaded; it will be the hex (if not mistaken) without the bootloader in the name.

4

Arnav,
I found all the other files in the build directory. There were also some other subdirectories in it as well. These files are generated automatically every time I compiled...

So from what I understand, only the .hex file is uploaded (without the bootloader). So, what is the purpose of the other files?

5

If you Upload Using Programmer, the .hex file without the bootloader is used.
Otherwise, Upload uses the file With the bootloader.

The others are interim files used in the compilation/hex file building process.

build_folder.JPG
build_folder.JPG1092×445 56.7 KB

You can use Notepad++ and open all the files to see what they have.

build_folder.JPG
build_folder.JPG1092×445 56.7 KB

6

I find the easiest way to get to that folder is to go File:Preferences, click the More preferences path at the bottom, then back up one folder to /Local, open the /Temp folder, and then the build folders are there.

7

Hi CrossRoads,
Thanks for your reply..

Can you please elaborate on "If you Upload Using Programmer, the .hex file without the bootloader is used" ?

At present I am just using the IDE (running on PC) to do the compilation/uploading on to the Nano.

I am also thinking of using xLoader to update from PC to Arduino,

So when I use a PC, which one of the hex file is actually uploaded to Nano (one without bootloader or the one wiith the bootloader ?

8

When you do a normal upload using USB

C:\Users\sterretje\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino9/bin/avrdude -CC:\Users\sterretje\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino9/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM4 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\sterretje\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_175144/[b][color=red]Blink.ino.hex[/color][/b]:i

The first line of the verbose output as described in reply #2