Quick Guide for Bricxcc, NXC, and firmware

[HaWe]

for all newbies to NXC and Bricxcc: DON'T PANIC!

Quick Guide for Bricxcc and John Hansen's enhanced firmware (EFW):

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(link to the German website: http://www.mindstormsforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=3311 )


(1) uninstall all previous Bricxcc versions (Windows System folder/ Software /uninstall).

(2) install the latest final release of Bricxcc (self-extracting):
https://sourceforge.net/projects/bricxcc/files/bricxcc/ ( -> Download Now!)

(3) install BricxCC Bugfix Update:
new test_release available? (check file date!):
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/test_releases/
- extract .zip file (best to use WinZip or WinRar (when using Windows Extract Function always somethings' going wrong)
John Hansen's enhanced firmware is included!
copy and paste all unzipped content completely into BricxCC folder (usually c:\windows\program files\bricxcc)
- NEW FEATURE - for the future: also self-extracting files available !

(4) fw-download from PC to the NXT Brick:
- connect NXT Brick to your PC
- start Bricxcc
- firmware download (Tools -> Firmware download):
- choose correct firmware version included in unzipped test_release-zip file

- If the fw-transfer to your NXT hangs up (SAM-BA mode: softly clicking noise), immediately start it a 2nd time!
- If Bcc doesn't recognize your NXT brick in downlowd mode at all, reinstall these Fantom Drivers from this link anew :
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTem ... 7C537F.zip
- then again restart fw-download.

(5) personal adjustments (Edit -> Preferences ): default is currently:
- compiler/common: NXC
- compiler/NBC-NXC:
- - 2.0 compatible firmware
- - enhanced Firmware
- - use integrated compiler
- - automatic firmware version

- READY!


Additional resources and hints in case of issues:

(6) Single-Download of the latest enhanced firmware:
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/lms_arm_nbcnxc.zip

(7) Single-Download of the latest NXT-drivers for Windows and Mac:
http://mindstorms.lego.com/en-us/suppor ... river.aspx

(8) Registry Clear Tool
(if help function does not work):
https://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mind ... .php?id=24

(9) clicking brick, USB issues: the latest Fantom drivers
(if Windows doesn't recognize your brick or in case of different USB troubles:)
http://cache.lego.com/upload/contentTem ... 7C537F.zip
Guide for new installation:
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/NXTFantomDriverHelp.pdf
helpful aginst the clicking brick might be also this link:
http://www.legoengineering.com/clicking-brick-syndrome/

(10) original Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 software
(if a complete re-installation is needed from the scratch)
http://mindboards.org/downloads/MINDSTO ... %202.0.iso


Tutorials, guides and references:

NXC Tutorial:
first steps, by Daniele Benedettelli: http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/nxcd ... torial.pdf

NXC Guide:
API functions, procedures etc:
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/nxcdoc/NXC_Guide.pdf

NXC Online-Help:
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/nxcd ... index.html

NXCDefs.h Reference
more details:
http://bricxcc.sourceforge.net/nbc/nxcd ... fs_8h.html

Tutorials in German:
Tutorial by Frank Engeln: http://www.vlin.de/vlin2/material/NXC.pdf
http://www.roberta-home.de/sites/defaul ... v2-0_0.pdf
http://www.ist.uni-stuttgart.de/robolab/NXC-Hilfe.pdf
http://www.debacher.de/wiki/NXC%20,%20h ... 3.BC_Tools
http://lukas.internet-freaks.net/nxt.php#programmierung
http://www.ist.uni-stuttgart.de/robolab/NXC-Hilfe.pdf
http://www.debacher.de/wiki/NXC
http://www.debacher.de/wiki/NXC#Das_Men.C3.BC_Tools

"share and enjoy!"

[afanofosc]

connect your NXT brick to your PC, start Bricxcc, download the firmware to the NXT brick, and adjust the settings:
connect your NXT brick to your PC
start Bricxcc
firmware download (Tools -> Firmware downlaod):
- choose the appropriae firmware version contained in the installation folder or in the test_release-zip file

I would add to the above that if the download does not complete successfully then you should try repeating the download a second time. The current download process is sometimes interrupted by the Windows plug-and-play "found new device" popup which slows down the communication a bit to the point where BricxCC doesn't complete the firmware download and the NXT is left in "firmware download" mode or SAMBA mode (SAM Boot Assistant). In this mode the brick clicks softly and does not respond to any button presses. Normally a second firmware download from this state will succeed since the brick is already in the right state to receive the firmware image and the right drivers have already been configured for the NXT when it is connected via USB in SAMBA mode.

John Hansen

[lebostein]

Hm... for windows I found hundreds of guides in www.
What about Mac OS? Can you collect hints in this forum section to use NXC on Mac OS?
Thanks!

[timpattinson]

Use nxtcc, it's in development, as BrixCC is Windows only.
If that doesn't work: try this guide:
http://mastincrosbie.com/Marks_LEGO_pro ... _10.5.html

[mightor]

BT posts split to new topic. https://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/mind ... f=3&t=1102

[muntoo]

Ummm...

The new 'quick guide' is in German.

[mightor]

So it's more of a Kurzanleitung, then?

- Xander

[muntoo]

So it's more of a Kurzanleitung, then?

I guessed what 'Kurzanleitung' meant before I googled it.

[HaWe]

for the most proven settings for BCC/NXC preferences IMO you may wish to look here:

http://www.mindstormsforum.de/viewtopic ... 472#p64472