CS+

You can obtain sample scripts that are executable with Python console from the Renesas Web site and simply register script files with projects and execute them (only for CS+ for CC).

• Check the sample scripts which are executable in a list.
• Register a script file with an active project by simply using the [Add to project] button.
• Double-click on the name of the script file you have acquired in the Project Tree panel to open the script file in an Editor panel. You can then customize the script file as you wish.

You can refer to the description of an SFR (special function register), IOR (input/output register), or API function generated by the Code Generator by simply hovering the mouse cursor over its name (only for CS+ for CC in projects for the RL78 or RX Family).

Supporting panels:

• Editor panel
• SFR and IOR panels (only descriptions of registers)
• Disassemble panel (only descriptions of registers)

You can also display a description of a desired register or specific pages of the hardware manuals from the [Smart Manual] panel.

You can use this feature instead of a standard Web browser to easily view the contents of the latest information related to the device selected for the active project and to download sample code, if any, which comes with the applicable application notes. Note that this feature is only available with CS+ for CC.

• New releases and updated versions of documents are labeled “NEW” and “UPDATED”, respectively.
• The Smart Browser is capable of automatically searching for FAQs related to errors that have been displayed in the error dialog box and information posted on the Renesas Renesas Engineering Community Web site, helping you to solve problems as they arise.

The build options for optimization of the programs are applied automatically, and you can compare the results of optimization for code size or execution speed and set optimization accordingly (only for CS+ for CC).

• By simply clicking on a button, you can display code sizes and execution times for multiple patterns of build options.
• Since the results of measurement are shown in different colors, you can easily check the effects of settings for small code size or fast execution.
• A pattern of options can be selected and immediately reflected in a project.

The Smart Configurator is a GUI-based tool with functions for setting up drivers for peripheral modules, middleware for embedding, and pin assignments. You can output optimal source code for Renesas MCUs or combine FIT modules with your own code (RX only). From V6.00.00, CS+ supports interoperability with the Smart Configurator for the RX Family.

• Activate the Smart Configurator from CS+.
• Add the files generated by the Smart Configurator to your CS+ project.

Learn more about the Smart Configurator >>

The inter-channel communications facility of the RS-CAN module is applied to facilitate early stages in the debugging of network communications without an actual other party. A desired CAN channel or reception of a desired type of frame can be debugged in this way. The RS-CAN module of the device must, of course, have at least two channels if this is to be used (Only for RH850 family devices).

• Simply set the desired data and channel to make a program handle reception.
• Not only single frames but sequences of frames in a specified order can be transmitted.
• Creating test data is a smooth process since data for transmission can be imported and exported.

You can view help information for CS+ online (only in CS+ for CC).

• You can thus view the latest versions of help files.
• You can consult help information from the Web in your customary Web browser and search for items in the browser.
• The existing function for viewing help files installed on the host PC is still in place.

Online Help of CS+ >>

You can measure the CAN communications response times with the use of an E2 emulator, eliminating the need for an expensive CAN analyzer. This helps in the detection of problems at early stages (RH850 only).

• Response times are important in CAN communications. This facility makes measuring response times easy.
• A program can be made to stop when the response time is not within the allowable range.
• After stopping the program, you can check the trace data or the history of CAN communications.

Learn more about CAN Communication Time Measurement Solution >>

The E2 emulator allows you to measure system currents without using an ammeter. This helps to shorten the times taken in operations for the tuning of current drawn (only for CS+ for CC in projects for the RL78 Family and RX100 and RX200 Series).

• Check the relations between system current and the operations of programs without having to modify your board or program.
• Simply specify the condition and the program will stop when excessive current is detected.
• You can also use monitoring points, in a similar manner to the setting of breakpoints, to monitor the relationship between the behavior of the program and values for current.

Use QE for Current Consumption to use these functions.

Learn more >>

States which would be hard to set up on the actual system can be created by injecting artificial faults (pseudo-errors). This allows the effective debugging of program actions in response to detecting the corresponding abnormal condition. This facility is only available on RH850 Family MCUs equipped with the Error Control Module (ECM).

• Various pseudo-faults can be injected for MCUs, such as ECC errors and lock-step errors. Multiple pseudo-errors can be generated simultaneously.
• You can easily set breakpoints at and after the location pointed to by the interrupt vector for the error, and use these to debug program operation in response to the error.
• When various errors have occurred, you can check them in the [Pseudo-Error Debugging] panel.

You can easily detect if variables have not been changed in specific areas (e.g., in an area where interrupts are allowed). You can also use this feature to check for the correct application of exclusive control.

• Which functions access specified variables can be checked on a list of access (reading and writing). This is only for CS+ for CC.
• Overwriting of variables in specific areas (the spaces taken up by specified functions) can be detected and indicated as errors. Such errors can be debugged by jumping from the overwritten address to the corresponding line of source code. This is only for RH850 devices. ^(Note1)

You can use this feature for the collective output of quality-related information such as listings of source files, build option settings, information on functions and variables, and coverage rates. Note that this feature is only available in CS+ for CC. CS+ supports the output of information on various items, which is useful in verifying the security of user-created programs.

[Types of information that can be output]

• Project trees, lists of dependencies, contents of the [Property] panel
• Quality reports on building
• Results of profiling of memory maps
• Lists of functions and variables, analysis charts, call graphs, and tables of access to functions and variables
• Build-tool information for compiler qualification service

Specifically, this allows the debugging of user programs on the main CPU core with the user program for the ICU-M running but without the person using the debugger being aware of its operations or the contents of the secure range (only applicable to the RH850/F1KH and RH850/F1KM groups).

Security-Conscious Debugging Methods for RH850 Devices (Main-Core Debugging) (PDF | English, 日本語)

[Tutorials Make Things Easy]

Anyone can freely experience the CS+ IDE from the creation to the debugging of programs by going through the procedures given as tutorials.

[Easy Code Generation ^(Note1)]

The control programs (device driver programs) to control MCU peripheral features (timers, UARTs, A/D convertors, and so on) can be automatically generated from GUI settings.

The APIs for code generation have common specifications for every family of MCUs. Once you have used this code generation feature in developing a program, the only thing you will need to do when changing to another MCU with the same internal peripheral functionality is to replace the device drivers. This dramatically reduces person-hours for development. Hence, developers can concentrate on learning the new peripheral features instead of spending time repeating work that’s already been done.

The generated program code is in the C language. From the GUI, even a beginner on an MCU can see at a glance why a given setting is made or what procedure is being performed.

Learn more >>

[Backup Data]

The IDE has an efficient backup feature that can store and extract projects and tools in and from a file format.