Introduction

You build your project with Code Composer Studio (CCS). You are aware some particular compiler option solves your problem. But you cannot turn it on because you cannot find it! This article shows you how to find that option.

This article applies to TI compilers, and not to any GCC compilers.

Overview

Two methods are shown. The first one is easier to use, but sometimes doesn't work. The second one is a little more difficult to use, but always works.

The first method is to search the compiler manual for the option, then see the name of the table which contains the option. This table name is a close match to one of the names used to organize the compiler options in the CCS build dialog. This method assumes CCS, the compiler, and the compiler manual are all in close agreement. This is often the case, but not always. When that happens, the second method becomes necessary.

The second method is to manually collect all the possible compiler options into a text file. Search the text file for the option. The sub-heading which contains the option is a close match to one of the names used to organize the compiler options in the CCS build dialog.

Version Information

All of the screen shots use CCSv9.3 and TI ARM compiler version 18.12.4.LTS. If you use different versions or a different CPU family, the screens you see will be similar, but not an exact match.

Running Example: --src_interlist

One example option is used throughout the article: --src_interlist. This compiler option has two effects.

  1. The generated assembly file is not deleted. This file has the same name as the source file, with the file extension changed to .asm. It is usually located in the directory with the same name as the current build configuration, often Debug.
  2. Comments are added which make the assembly code easier to understand.

Method 1: Compiler Manual

TI compiler manuals are available in two places: online and inside the Help feature of CCS. The details of how you search each one are a bit different.

Online PDF Manuals

All TI compiler manuals are available online. Be sure to use the PDF manuals, and not the HTML ones. Unfortunately, the HTML manuals cannot be searched. Search for --src_interlist in the TI ARM compiler manual until it appears in a table.

Note the name of the table is Assembler Options. This is the category name to look for in the CCS build dialog.

Find the Category in the Build Dialog

In CCS, right click on the name of the project and select Show Build Settings. In the pane on the left, expand Build, and then ARM Compiler.

The category name Assembler Options does not appear. But not all of the category names are shown. Expand the entry Advanced Options.

Found it! But --src_interlist is still missing. Note the drop down box named Source Interlist. Try that.

It is not unusual for a compiler option to be inside a drop down box.

Manuals inside CCS

In CCS, select Help → Help Contents. In the pane on the left, expand the selection ARM Compiler Version number.number User's Guides. If you use a different CPU family, change ARM to the name of that CPU family. Expand the selection for the Compiler User's Guide. Select Using the C/C++ Compiler. Then use Ctrl+F to search for the compiler option, until it appears in a table. The name of that table is a close match to one of the names used to organize the compiler options in the CCS build dialog.

The next screen shot shows finding the --src_interlist option in the ARM compiler manual. Note the name of the table is Assembler Options. Look for it the CCS build dialog using the same steps as shown above in the sub-chapter titled Find the Category in the Build Dialog.

Method 2: Manually Collect Compiler Options

This method requires executing the compiler from the command line. The details vary between systems. The description here is for Windows. It is similar for Linux and Mac systems.

If CCSv9.3 is installed in the default location, and the compiler is ARM version 18.12.4.LTS, then the executables are located in ...

C:\ti\ccs930\ccs\tools\compiler\ti-cgt-arm_18.12.4.LTS\bin

Make adjustments to this location based on the version of CCS, where it is installed, and exactly which compiler is being used. The rest of these directions presume the environment is configured to automatically find the compiler at that directory path.

Execute the compiler from the command line with no options, and it dumps a help summary ...

C:\work>armcl
TI ARM C/C++ Compiler                   v18.12.4.LTS
Copyright (c) 1996-2018 Texas Instruments Incorporated

...

Processor Options:
  -mv,--silicon_version=4,5e,6,6M0,7A8,7M3,7M4,7R4,7R5
                               Target processor version (when not specified,
                                compiler defaults to --silicon_version=4)
  --code_state=16,32           Designate code state, 16-bit (thumb) or 32-bit
  --float_support=VFPv2,VFPv3,VFPv3D16,vfplib,fpalib,FPv4SPD16,none
                               Specify floating point support

Capture all the compiler options in a text file with a command similar to ...

C:\work>armcl > options.txt

Edit that text file and search for the compiler option of interest. Note the sub-heading which contains that option. The name of that sub-heading is a close match to one of the names used to organize the compiler options in the CCS build dialog.

The next screen shot shows finding the --src_interlist option for the ARM compiler. Note the name of the sub-heading is Assembler Options. Look for it the CCS build dialog using the same steps as shown above in the sub-chapter titled Find the Category in the Build Dialog.