Memory Xplorer Editor Panel

Last modified by Microchip on 2024/03/28 12:40

Editor Panel (Home Screen) Overview

Memory Xplorer provides additional functionality once an evaluation kit has been successfully connected and a serial Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) device has been selected.

Select a Device

A device can be found by entering the part number in the Part Name field or filtering supported devices by protocol and/or density.

Memory Xplorer Device Selection

Click the green Start button to select the device. Memory Xplorer will take some time to read and display current memory contents.

Memory Xplorer Start Button

Let’s review the available functions once a device has been selected:

File

Memory Xplorer File Menu

Device Selection

Deselects current device and returns Memory Xplorer to the Editor Panel to permit new device selection.

Note: Changing devices will reset Memory Xplorer settings and lose all unsaved changes. Click Cancel to return to the previous screen or Continue to return to the opening screen.

Intel^® Hex Import

Opens Windows^® file navigation window for folder and file selection and imports an Intel formatted hex file (*.hex)

Intel Hex Export

Opens Windows file navigation window for folder and file name selection and exports memory contents as an Intel formatted hex file (*.hex)

Exit

Closed Memory Xplorer application and associated windows, i.e. Embedded User Guide

Tools

Memory Xplorer Tools Menu

Firmware Reload

Launches Firmware Update Wizard to update USB Base Board firmware update process for latest device support.

Cycle Utility

Launches Cycle Utility Tool. Selected device address ranges can be repeatedly written and erased for a selected number of cycles at a specified frequency and supply voltage.

Warning: This tool is not an official endurance validation tool. It is provided only for exploration purposes only. It can potentially reduce the device's lifespan and could result in device failure.

Decode

Changes the Main Array panel to display memory contents as either ASCII or ISO-8859-1.

Help

Memory Xplorer Help Menu

User Guide

Launches a new window for the embedded Memory Xplorer User Guide.

Contact Support

Launches a browser window to Microchip Support for links to design and technical support, quality and reliability information, product change notifications and more.

About

Displays current Memory Xplorer version, date and release notes.

Array Tools Panel

The Array Tools Panel performs both write and read operations based on the Starting address, Size fields (in bytes) and Pattern. Once the fields are filled properly, the Write/Read button will turn green and can be clicked to initiate the desired operation.

Write Selector

Displays Write Panel to configure Array Tools Panel for write operations.

Memory Xplorer Write Selector

Read Selector

Displays Read Panel to configure Array Tools Panel for read operations.

Memory Xplorer Read Selector

Erase Selector

Displays Erase Panel to configure Array Tools Panel for erase operations.

Memory Xplorer Erase Selector

Write Mode Selector

Selects whether data will be written to array in pages or bytes. Refer to your product data sheet for page size details.

Memory Xplorer Write Mode Selector

(Starting) Address Field

Input starting memory address (hex) for write and read operations.

Memory Xplorer Address Field

Size Field

Specifies the number of bytes for subsequent write and read operations.

Memory Xplorer Size Field

Pattern Field

Provides data values for write operations. Memory Xplorer supports three methods for generating values which can be applied to the selected memory range. This is followed by a Fill Range operation to update the Hex Edit memory view. Refer to the "Selecting Memory Addresses" section for available methods of selecting a memory range.

Sequential - Automatically fills memory range with sequential numbers starting with 0.
Random - Automatically fills memory range with a random number sequence.
Fixed (hex) - Fills selected memory range with a fixed number entered in the field below this selector. This must be a hex number not exceeding two characters.

Memory Xplorer Pattern Field

Fill Range Button

Applies selected Pattern to the memory locations specified by the (starting) Address and Size (in bytes) fields. Changes are only made in Memory Xplorer. No serial EEPROM writes will be made.

Note: Fill Range button will activate (turn blue) when the required fields within the Write Panel are fulfilled.

Memory Xplorer Fill Range Button

Discard Changes Button

Returns memory display in Editor Panel to blank (0xFF) values. Changes are only made in Memory Xplorer. No serial EEPROM writes will be made.

Memory Xplorer Discard Changes Button

Write Button

The Write button can be found after clicking the Write Selector in the Array Tools Panel to open the Write Panel. It will turn green to permit a write operation after the required conditions within the Write Panel are fulfilled. The button text updates to reflect which array and how much of the array will be written, i.e. Changes, Selector or Full Buffer. The various regions can be selected by clicking the down arrow on the right side of the button. For example, if the Hex Editor’s entire buffer is written to the Main Array, the button text will be “Write Full Buffer Main Array”.

When selected, it will erase the serial EEPROM device, write the contents of the Hex Editor to the device and read the device memory contents back to update the memory contents display. See the "Selecting Memory Addresses" section for available methods of selecting a memory range.

Memory Xplorer Write Button

Read Button

The Read button can be found by clicking the Read Selector in the Array Tools Panel to open the Read Panel. The Read button will turn green once a range has been specified. This can be done by filling in the Address and Size register in the Read Panel, selecting a memory range in the Hex Editor memory viewer or by selecting a range using the pulldown menu on the right side of the button, e.g. Selection or Full. Refer to the "Selecting Memory Addresses" section for available methods of selecting a memory range.

Memory Xplorer Read Button

Erase Button

The erase button is accessed after selecting the Erase Selector in the Array Tools Panel to open the Erase Panel. The erase operation has 3 modes; Device, Sector and Page. If Sector or Page is selected, the pulldown menu on the right side of the green Erase button can be used to select either Selection or Full Buffer. Clicking the green Erase button will initiate the selected erase operation. Refer to the device datasheet for information about memory sector and page attributes.

Memory Xplorer Erase Button

Erase Modes

Memory erase operations can be completed in three different modes; Device, Sector or Page.

Device will erase the entire device, therefore the Address and Size field information is not required and are hidden.
Sector will erase the memory sector(s) specified by the Address and Size fields. Any partial sector that falls within the defined region will erased.
Page erase memory page(s) specified by the Address and Size fields. Any partial sector that falls within the defined region will erased.

Note: Any write protection schemes enabled within the device may cause unexpected behavior over protected regions.

Event Log

Streaming datalog of Memory Xplorer events such as memory operations, hardware detection, device parameter changes, errors, etc.

Memory Xplorer Event Log

Product Page link

Links to the product landing page for the selected device.

Memory Xplorer Product Page Link

Buy Samples link

Opens Microchip Purchasing & Client Services page of the selected device. There you can find product documentation, product details, purchase options and more.

Memory Xplorer Buy Samples Link

Device Parameters field

Lists device parameters from the selected device’s datasheet including part number, density, page size, endurance, etc. Refer to the latest product datasheet and errata for the latest specifications and limitations.

Memory Xplorer Device Properties Panel

Voltage

A slider to select the operating voltage of the serial EEPROM device. Only supported voltages are available.

Memory Xplorer Voltage Slider

Frequency

Selects communication frequency (in KHz) between USB Base Board MCU peripheral and serial EEPROM in Socket Board. Only supported frequencies are available.

Memory Xplorer Frequency Slider

SPI Mode (shown for SPI devices)

Selects Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) speed between MCU on Base Board and serial EEPROM in Socket Board.

Note: Microchip SPI serial EEPROMs only support modes 0 and 3. These devices will automatically switch between these modes, no user intervention is needed. Memory Xplorer defaults to mode 0.

Memory Xplorer SPI Mode Selector

Pin Manager field

Shows SOIC pin diagram for the selected device. Refer to the product datasheet for available package options on your device.

Memory Xplorer Pin Manager

What's Next?

Now that you've learned about Memory Xplorer's Editor Panel, you can continue by learning about Memory Xplorer's Hex Editor and how it can be used to modify memory contents.