GENERAL: Intel HEX File Format

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Information in this article applies to:

• Keil MDK All Versions
• C166 All Versions
• C251 All Versions
• C51 All Versions

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QUESTION

What is the Intel HEX file format?

ANSWER

The Intel HEX file is an ASCII text file with lines of text that follow the Intel HEX file format. Each line in an Intel HEX file contains one HEX record. These records are made up of hexadecimal numbers that represent machine language code and/or constant data. Intel HEX files are often used to transfer the program and data that would be stored in a ROM or EPROM. Most EPROM programmers or emulators can use Intel HEX files.

Record Format

An Intel HEX file is composed of any number of HEX records. Each record is made up of five fields that are arranged in the following format:

:llaaaatt[dd...]cc

Each group of letters corresponds to a different field, and each letter represents a single hexadecimal digit. Each field is composed of at least two hexadecimal digits-which make up a byte-as described below:

• : is the colon that starts every Intel HEX record.
• ll is the record-length field that represents the number of data bytes (dd) in the record.
• aaaa is the address field that represents the starting address for subsequent data in the record.
• tt is the field that represents the HEX record type, which may be one of the following:
  00 - data record
  01 - end-of-file record
  02 - extended segment address record
  04 - extended linear address record
  05 - start linear address record (MDK-ARM only)
• dd is a data field that represents one byte of data. A record may have multiple data bytes. The number of data bytes in the record must match the number specified by the ll field.
• cc is the checksum field that represents the checksum of the record. The checksum is calculated by summing the values of all hexadecimal digit pairs in the record modulo 256 and taking the two's complement.

Data Records

The Intel HEX file is made up of any number of data records that are terminated with a carriage return and a linefeed. Data records appear as follows:

:10246200464C5549442050524F46494C4500464C33

This record is decoded as follows:

:10246200464C5549442050524F46494C4500464C33
|||||||||||                              CC->Checksum
|||||||||DD->Data
|||||||TT->Record Type
|||AAAA->Address
|LL->Record Length
:->Colon

where:

• 10 is the number of data bytes in the record.
• 2462 is the address where the data are to be located in memory.
• 00 is the record type 00 (a data record).
• 464C...464C is the data.
• 33 is the checksum of the record.

Extended Linear Address Records (HEX386)

Extended linear address records are also known as 32-bit address records and HEX386 records. These records contain the upper 16 bits (bits 16-31) of the data address. The extended linear address record always has two data bytes and appears as follows:

:02000004FFFFFC

where:

• 02 is the number of data bytes in the record.
• 0000 is the address field. For the extended linear address record, this field is always 0000.
• 04 is the record type 04 (an extended linear address record).
• FFFF is the upper 16 bits of the address.
• FC is the checksum of the record and is calculated as
  01h + NOT(02h + 00h + 00h + 04h + FFh + FFh).

When an extended linear address record is read, the extended linear address stored in the data field is saved and is applied to subsequent records read from the Intel HEX file. The linear address remains effective until changed by another extended address record.

The absolute-memory address of a data record is obtained by adding the address field in the record to the shifted address data from the extended linear address record. The following example illustrates this process..

Address from the data record's address field      2462
Extended linear address record data field     FFFF
                                              --------
Absolute-memory address                       FFFF2462

Extended Segment Address Records (HEX86)

Extended segment address records-also known as HEX86 records-contain bits 4-19 of the data address segment. The extended segment address record always has two data bytes and appears as follows:

:020000021200EA

where:

• 02 is the number of data bytes in the record.
• 0000 is the address field. For the extended segment address record, this field is always 0000.
• 02 is the record type 02 (an extended segment address record).
• 1200 is the segment of the address.
• EA is the checksum of the record and is calculated as
  01h + NOT(02h + 00h + 00h + 02h + 12h + 00h).

When an extended segment address record is read, the extended segment address stored in the data field is saved and is applied to subsequent records read from the Intel HEX file. The segment address remains effective until changed by another extended address record.

The absolute-memory address of a data record is obtained by adding the address field in the record to the shifted-address data from the extended segment address record. The following example illustrates this process.

Address from the data record's address field     2462
Extended segment address record data field      1200
                                             --------
Absolute memory address                      00014462

Start Linear Address Records (MDK-ARM only)

Start linear address records specify the start address of the application. These records contain the full linear 32 bit address. The start linear address record always has four data bytes and appears as follows:

:04000005000000CD2A

where:

• 04 is the number of data bytes in the record.
• 0000 is the address field. For the start linear address record, this field is always 0000.
• 05 is the record type 05 (a start linear address record).
• 000000CD is the 4 byte linear start address of the application.
• 2A is the checksum of the record and is calculated as
  01h + NOT(04h + 00h + 00h + 05h + 00h + 00h + 00h + CDh).

The Start Linear Address specifies the address of the __main (pre-main) function but not the address of the startup code which usually calls __main after calling SystemInit(). An odd linear start address specifies that __main is compiled for the Thumb instruction set.

The Start Linear Address Record can appear anywhere in hex file. In most cases this record can be ignored because it does not contain information which is needed to program flash memory.

End-of-File (EOF) Records

An Intel HEX file must end with an end-of-file (EOF) record. This record must have the value 01 in the record type field. An EOF record always appears as follows:

:00000001FF

where:

• 00 is the number of data bytes in the record.
• 0000 is the address where the data are to be located in memory. The address in end-of-file records is meaningless and is ignored. An address of 0000h is typical.
• 01 is the record type 01 (an end-of-file record).
• FF is the checksum of the record and is calculated as
  01h + NOT(00h + 00h + 00h + 01h).

Example Intel HEX File

Following is an example of a complete Intel HEX file:

:10001300AC12AD13AE10AF1112002F8E0E8F0F2244
:10000300E50B250DF509E50A350CF5081200132259
:03000000020023D8
:0C002300787FE4F6D8FD7581130200031D
:10002F00EFF88DF0A4FFEDC5F0CEA42EFEEC88F016
:04003F00A42EFE22CB
:00000001FF

SEE ALSO

• GENERAL: Converting HEX, Binary, etc. File Formats
• µVision: Creating Intel Hex Files for Arm-Based Devices
• ULINK: Using ULINK as a Device Programmer
• ARMLINK: Generating Binary Output During a Build
• ARMCC: Arm Compiler Output Formats

SEE ALSO FOR 8051

• Refer to the OH51 User's Guide.
• Refer to the OHX51 User's Guide.
• LX51: Generating Hex Files for Banked Applications
• µVision: Hex Output File for a Device Programmer

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, December 8, 2020

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