Question: To achieve better software version control, can the hex filename generated by PSoC Creator add timestamp automatically?
Answer: Yes. PSoC Creator provides a post-build option in linker config GUI to enable customers to execute customize single linker script command or a bat file that includes multi commands.
For example: add the below linker script command in the post-build text box can make PSoC Creator generate a bin file besides the hex file.
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Cypress\PSoC Creator\4.4\PSoC Creator\import\gnu\arm\5.4.1\bin\arm-none-eabi-objcopy" -S -O binary ".\CortexM0p\ARM_GCC_541\Debug\Design01.elf" ".\CortexM0p\ARM_GCC_541\Debug\Design01.bin"
But add timestamp into hex file needs require multi commands, so a bat file should be used to realize this feature.
Step1: Create a text file named HexTimeStamp and save it as a bat file.
Step2: Add command "..\HexTimeStamp.bat" ${OutputDir} ${ProjectShortName} in post build text.
Step3: Add below script in bat file.
:: Post-build command "..\HexTimeStamp.bat" ${OutputDir} ${ProjectShortName}， bat file must be placed in the same path (deep level) as project .cydsn folder
:: ${OutputDir} = %1，the path of hex file locate at
:: ${ProjectShortName} = %2, the name of project and hex file
:: Print date and time value, like Wed 08/25/2021_13:38:44.32
echo %date%_%time%
:: relocate path to where hex file locate at, like \CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug\
cd %1
::echo off
:: format month+day data, 08/25 --> 0825
set date_num1=%date:~4,5%
set date_num1=%date_num1:-=%
set date_num1=%date_num1:/=%
:: format year data, /2021 --> 2021
set date_num2=%date:~9,5%
set date_num2=%date_num2:-=%
set date_num2=%date_num2:/=%
:: format hours:minute:second data, 13:38:44 --> 133844
:: if first value is 0, add zero in the left side. 3:38:44 -->033844
set time_num=%time:~0,8%
set time_num=%time_num::=%
if "%time_num:~0,1%"==" " set "time_num=0%time_num:~1%"
echo on
echo "Insent time stamp in hex file's name >>"
:: combine into final time stamp value and add into hex file name
:: .\Hex_TimeStamp.hex .\Hex_TimeStamp_20210825_133844.hex
copy .\%2.hex .\%2_%date_num2%%date_num1%_%time_num%.hex
Step4: Build project multi times, you can find timestamp is added into hex file name.
PSoC Creator Build log for bat file：
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:: ..\HexTimeStamp.bat Hex_TimeStamp
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn>echo Wed 08/25/2021_13:38:44.32
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn>cd .\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug\
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num1=08/25
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num1=08/25
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num1=0825
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num2=/2021
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num2=/2021
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set date_num2=2021
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set time_num=13:38:44
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>set time_num=133844
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>if "1" == " " set "time_num=033844"
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>echo on
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>echo "Insent time stamp in hex file's name >>"
:: ..\Hex_TimeStamp.cydsn\CortexM4\ARM_GCC_541\Debug>copy .\Hex_TimeStamp.hex .\Hex_TimeStamp_20210825_133844.hex
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