181 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
181 lines
6.1 KiB
Markdown
# Running programs on your micro:bit
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How to compile, transfer, and run a program on your micro:bit.
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While you're writing and testing your programs, you'll mostly be [running them
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in the simulator](/device/simulator), but once you've finished your program you
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can **compile** it and run it on your micro:bit.
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The basic steps are:
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1. Connect your micro:bit to your computer via USB
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2. Click **Download** and download the `.hex` file
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3. Copy the `.hex` file from your computer onto the micro:bit drive
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## Requirements
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You need the following things to transfer and run a script on your micro:bit:
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* A-Male to Micro USB cable to connect your computer to your micro:bit. This is
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the same cable that is commonly used to connect a smart phone to a computer.
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* A PC running Windows 7 or later, or a Mac running OS X 10.6 or later
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## Step 1: Connect your micro:bit to your computer
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First, connect the micro:bit:
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1. Connect the small end of the USB cable to the micro USB port on your micro:bit.
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2. Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB port on your computer.
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Your computer should recognise your micro:bit as a new drive. On computers
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running Windows, `MICROBIT` appears as a drive under Devices and drives. On a Mac
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it appears as a new drive under Devices.
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**Windows**
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**Mac**
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## Step 2: Download your program
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1. Open your project on [codethemicrobit.com](https://codethemicrobit.com)
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2. Click **Download**
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3. When prompted, choose to **save** the compiled file onto your computer. The
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prompt will be different depending on which browser you are using, or
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whether you are using a Windows computer or a Mac
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### Windows
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#### Chrome
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Your `.hex` file appears as a download at the bottom of the browser. Click on
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the arrow next to the name of the file and then click **Show in folder**.
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Drag and drop the `.hex` file from the download folder onto the `MICROBIT` drive.
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#### Firefox
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A window will appear asking whether you want to save or open the `.hex` file.
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Select **Save File** and then select **OK**.
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The file will then appear in your downloads in the top right of your browser.
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Click the **folder icon** next to the filename to open it in Windows Explorer.
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Drag and drop the `.hex` file from the download folder onto the `MICROBIT` drive.
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#### Microsoft Edge
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A message will appear at the bottom of the browser asking what you want to do
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with the file. Click **Save**:
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Then click **Open folder** and drag and drop the file from your Downloads to
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your `MICROBIT` drive.
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#### Internet Explorer
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A message will appear at the bottom of the browser asking what you want to do
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with the file. Click **Save**:
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Then click **Open folder** and drag and drop the file from your Downloads to
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your `MICROBIT` drive.
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### Mac
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#### Safari
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When you select **Download** in Safari a file called `Unknown` will be
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downloaded into your Downloads folder. Open your Downloads folder and drag and
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drop the file onto your `MICROBIT` drive, under Devices:
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#### Firefox
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A dialogue box will appear, asking whether you would like to open or save your
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hex file. Select **Save file** and click **OK** and the file will then appear in
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your downloads in the top right of your browser. Right click on the file and
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click on **Show in Finder** and the file will appear in your downloads folder.
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Select the file and drag and drop it onto your `MICROBIT` drive.
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#### Chrome
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When you select **Download** in Chrome, the file will appear at the bottom of
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the browser. Click on the small arrow and select **Show in Finder**. This will
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show the file in your download folder. Drag and drop the file onto your
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`MICROBIT` drive.
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## Step 3: Transfer the file to your micro:bit
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* Once you've found the folder containing your `.hex` file, drag and drop it
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onto your `MICROBIT` drive
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* If you're using Windows, you can use **Send to** as described below
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* The LED on the back of your micro:bit flashes during the transfer (which
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should only take a few seconds).
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* Once transferred, the code will run automatically on your micro:bit. To rerun
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your program, press the reset button on the back of your micro:bit. The reset
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button automatically runs the newest file on the micro:bit.
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**Send to**: If you're using Windows you use *Send to* in File Explorer:
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- In File Explorer, right-click on the hex file (created in Step 2 above), choose **Send to**, and then **MICROBIT**.
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By copying the script onto the `MICROBIT` drive, you have programmed it into the
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flash memory on the micro:bit, which means even after you unplug the micro:bit,
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your program will still run if the micro:bit is powered by battery.
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## Troubleshooting
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You can’t drag and drop more than one hex file at once onto your micro:bit. If
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you try to drag and drop a second hex file onto your micro:bit before the first
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file has finished downloading, then the second file may fail in different ways.
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When the first program has been written to the micro:bit, the drive will
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disengage. If you drag and drop a second file at this point it may not find the
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drive and the second write will fail.
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The errors may look like this:
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**Windows**
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**Mac**
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Or it may appear that there are two hex files on your micro:bit so the micro:bit
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won’t be able to run multiple files. To rectify this, unplug your micro:bit and
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plug it in again. Make sure that your micro:bit appears as `MICROBIT` and not
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`MAINTENANCE`.
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### See also
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[Run code in a browser](/device/simulator)
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