Echelon IzoT NodeBuilder - Manual (Page 209)

Downloadable
Application Image
Files
(.APB, .NDL., and
NXE,)
These files contain the application image used by the IzoT
Commissioning tool and other network tools to download the compiled
application image to a device.
There are three types of downloadable application image files: the
binary application image file (.APB extension), the .NDL file, and the
text application image file (.NXE extension). These files are described
as follows:
• The .APB file is used by the IzoT Commissioning tool and other
LNS network tools to download an application images to a device
over the network. The .APB files can be used to upgrade the
device application for a previously installed device.
Note: The .APB files cannot be used to update a device’s
communication parameters or the clock multiplier for a 5000 or
6000 Series chip. If you change these properties, you must
associate the NodeBuilder project with a LonMaker network and
then load the device application with the IzoT NodeBuilder tool to
implement the change.
• The .NDL file is used to support manufacture-time loading of
devices with the NodeLoad utility. For more information on the
NodeLoad utility, see the NodeLoad Utility User’s Guide.
• The .NXE file is supplied to support some legacy network tools,
but it is not normally required.
Programmable
Application Image
Files
(.NRI, .NEI, .NFI,
.NME, and .NMF)
These files contain an application image that is used by a programming
tool to program an application image into a memory chip.
Programming tools include generic device programmers and specialized
Neuron 3120 programmers.
The .NMF and .NME types are used with the 5000 or 6000 Series chips
to program serial EEPROM (.NME) and flash (.NMF) memory parts.
Image files intended for serial memory parts may also be programmed
in-circuit, subject to the availability of suitable hardware.
There are five types of programmable application image files: ROM
application image file (.NRI extension), the EEPROM and flash
application image file (.NEI extension), the off-chip serial EEPROM
application image file (.NME extension), the Neuron flash image (.NFI
extension), and the off-chip flash application image file (.NMF
extension).
• ROM. The ROM application image file (.NRI extension) contains
a read-only application image that is used for programming a
PROM or flash memory for use in a device based on a Neuron
3150 Chip or FT 3150 Smart Transceiver. The first 16Kbytes of
the ROM application image file contains the Neuron firmware, and
optionally contains a copy of some or the entire on-chip EEPROM
image, as selected by the Exporter Reboot Options for the device
template target.
• EEPROM and flash memory. The EEPROM application image
file (.NEI extension) contains a EEPROM application image that is
used for programming an external or on-chip EEPROM. If the
application image was built for a Neuron 3150 Chip or an FT 3150
Smart Transceiver, the EEPROM application image file contains
the application code and data that resides in off-chip EEPROM,
IzoT NodeBuilder FX User's Guide 195