Using Flash Card on QxxHCPU

[panic mode]

Hi everyone, I'm having trouble with Q2MEM-2MBF memory cards (have two of them). Both are new, fresh out of the box. They are supposed to be used on two machines now running on Q06HCPU (both PLCs got recent upgrade from Q02H to Q06H since program is growing...). Currently I'm testing it on one of the Q02HCPUs I have in my office but result is still the same. When inserted, memory cards are recognized by CPU: SD600=30h (Flash type) SD603=2048 (kb) or SD606=2 (Mb) SM600 comes on (MMC ready=on) SM601 changes state according to write protect switch position etc. but appear to be not formated and the SM602 goes off (MMC A Drive1 flag). CPU Diagnostic reports error 2301: Error code(SD0) 2301 Error message ICM. OPE. ERROR Error description & cause (1)Memory card is not formatted. (2)Memory card format is incorrect. Corrective action (1)Format the memory card. (2)Re-format the memory card. I'm not sure what is the difference between the two suggested corrective actions but both manual and GX Developer say that this cannot be done on this type of device (only works for RAM or ATA devices). Trying to read or write doesn't work and same happens with just clicking on "Free space volume" in the Read or Write dialog... Tech support is looking into it but by the sound of them, this may take a while. Is there anything I can try now? (ok I'm still digging through manuals but I can't seam to find anything I didn't think of already...)

[panic mode]

ok, misleading error message... writing is possible through Online menu (Write to PLC Flash ROM, Write to PLC Flash ROM, select IC Card etc.). now if I only could: a) find way to delete garbage I downloaded as part of the test.. . b) find a way to keep only PART of the project on that card (only comments would be good start, but doesn't seam to be possible if I'm reading this right...). c) make the flashing process ANY faster... writing to this tiny 2Mb card takes like 10minutes...

[Crossbow]

New memory cards out of the box are NOT formatted. You need to use the Online menu on GX-Developer, choose Format PLC Memory, then choose the drive of the memory card (Memeory Card (RAM)). You must format new cards before use.

[panic mode]

unfortunately this is only true for SRAM and ATA but not for FlashROM - even though it does show up in selection list: menu Online > Format PLC Memory... > Target memory = Memory card (ROM) This is what shows up when card is installed using procedure out;lined in manual: And this is what PLC Diagnostic reports followed by attempt to format it

[panic mode]

...But after something is writen to FlashROM (anything, I used Comments because this is what I want to fit there), it does show up like formated, one can see files on the card and free space by clicking on Free Space Volume. The trick seam to be that first time something is written to the card, in must be done through menu Online > Write to PLC (Flash ROM) > Write to PLC (Flash ROM) etc. This seam to do initially some sort of formating but only the first time....And even though dialogs suggest that all data on the card will be lost, this is not true. Card does not get erased... ever... If this function is used latter on, new files can be added and files with same name are replaced (overwriten). But if the files have different names, they are only added until card limit is reached... But, this still doesn't do what i wanted/expected so: 1. How can I delete unwanted files or format this card? 2. How can I put part of the project on the card? According to manuals one can put certain files on the card but it doesn't say that some or all of them must be put on that same card. There is a huge difference between can and must. I don't want PLC code, parameters and data registers on the card. But as soon one set's PLC to use memory card, this card acts as a boot drive and expects complete project to be on it (parmaters, code etc.). This is not what manuals say (they say little about memory cards in general) and it's not what I want. I don't have time to experiment much and I am not quite eager to keep on trying since apparently changes are not reversible.

[panic mode]

Update and some corrections...: After some more experimenting (I know, I know, but what else to do...) it looks like every time PARAMETERS or COMMENTS are written to the Flash card, card DOES get formated before selected files are writen - which is why it takes so long. The message above however shows up every time something is about to get written - which is not 100% true (but better safe than sorry...). When I was adding ladder file only, (Parameters and comments ware on the card already) I also got the warning but download was very fast and card was not formated/erased (existing files on card ware not lost). I must say I tried it only once... (not something i need to do) Also this means if you ever write parameters to this kind of card, you will never get it off... You can remove it by downloading comments for example but PLC will not run... As far as I can tell, if there is memory card, PLC parameters must be on it. If some file is configured in the Parmeters > Boot File, to be copied to the program memory, this file must be on the card as well. This means it is possible to make selective choice what needs to be on the card (with the exception of parameters), but is something that needs further checking. For example I did notice that even if only COMMENTS are configured in BOOT FILE, parameters as well as Program code was expected on the card!? After removing this from parameters/boot file, only expected file is Parameters... weird but works for me... (close enough)