Allocate an array in C a specific location using linker commands

Question

I am a beginner... I would like to write to a specific memory location in my embedded flash...How do I mention it in my C header file? And then link it with the specific memory location using linker scripts. Right now I have declared the array as extern and it compiles properly. While liking, I need to tell the linker that I need it at this particular location. Should it be given in .ld file? What is a .dld file? This is not for GCC, for diab compiler. I have seen a sample code bubble.dld for bubble sort. But in some projects .dld files are created while making the project. In what step is it actually created?

Answer 1

First solution

in ".c":

// Talk to linker to place this in ".mysection"
__attribute__((section(".mysection"))) char MyArrray[52];

in ".ld":

MEMORY {
   m_interrupts (RX)    : ORIGIN = 0x00040000, LENGTH = 0x000001E8
   m_text      (RX)     : ORIGIN = 0x00050000, LENGTH = 0x000BFE18
   /* memory which will contain secion ".mysection" */
   m_my_memory (RX)       : ORIGIN = 0x00045000, LENGTH = 0x00000100
}

SECTIONS
{
  /***** Other sections *****/

  /* place "mysection" inside "m_my_memory" */
  .mysection :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    KEEP(*(.mysection));
    . = ALIGN(4);
  } > m_my_memory

  /***** Other sections *****/
}

Second solution

in ".c"

extern char myArray[52];

in ".ld"

MEMORY {
   m_interrupts (RX)    : ORIGIN = 0x00040000, LENGTH = 0x000001E8
   m_text      (RX)     : ORIGIN = 0x00050000, LENGTH = 0x000BFE18
   /* memory which will contain secion "myArray" */
   m_my_memory (RX)       : ORIGIN = 0x00045000, LENGTH = 0x00000100
}

SECTIONS
{
  /***** Other sections *****/

  /* place "myArray" inside "m_my_memory" */
  .mysection :
  {
    . = ALIGN(4);
    myArray = .; /* Place myArray at current address, ie first address of m_my_memory */
    . = ALIGN(4);
  } > m_my_memory

  /***** Other sections *****/
}

---

See this good manual to learn more how to place elements where you want