BL51: Function Pointer, Code Banking and NOOVERLAY

Information in this article applies to:

• C51 Version 7.00

QUESTION

I'm creating an extensive code banking application with lots of pointers to functions. I must disable variable overlaying with the NOOVERLAY directive. However, I need to use the OVERLAY directive to show the linker the relationship between functions that call use pointers to call functions in other code banks.

How can I do this?

ANSWER

The LX51 Linker and the BL51 Linker shipped with C51 Version 7 and later allow you to specify the OVERLAY and NOOVERLAY directives simultaneously. When both directives are used, the linker obtains function relationship references from the OVERLAY directive. When NOOVERLAY is specified as well, the linker no longer overlays function arguments and local variables.

On the linker command link, you must first specify the segment relationships using the OVERLAY directive. Then, specify the NOOVERLAY directive.

Note that this order is required only with LX51 Version 3.51 and earlier and BL51 Version 5.01 and earlier. If you use µVision2, you must create a linker response file to specify these directives in this order. Later versions of the linker allow these directives to be specified in any order.

MORE INFORMATION

• Refer to OVERLAY in the LX51 User's Guide.
• Refer to NOOVERLAY in the LX51 User's Guide.

Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 25, 2021