Out of Data Space

[FraserSmith51]

Hi

I have a program running on a PIC16F18346 that contains code for driving a WS2812 string. At the moment I have 80 devices and it compiles with Code area 7298 of 16384 and Data area with 604 of 2048. This works fine on the demo rig that I have. I now want to have the program drive 146 devices but compilation failed with Out of Data Space at that. Working backwords i ended up with needing to go back to 80. Even 81 wouldn't compile. Quite confused as to why it won't work with the bigger number

As I have built this program up bit by bit I have quite a lot of the configuration and code in separate include files. I hope the ZIP file attachment has all that's needed. 

I hope that someone can shed some light on this problem.

Chers

Fraser

[pinhe...@gmail.com]

Hi

Your arrays may not exceed the size of a ram page, which is 80 bytes.

Try using the large_array lib, but this could pose problems with the sensitive timings for the WS leds.

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[FraserSmith51]

Thanks Pinhead

I'll see if I can get that to work.

Cheers

Fraser

[Patrick FROUCHT]

Hello Fraser

My system is much simpler than yours but works xith. 252 ledsI have 6 main colors and up to 42 loop to get a max figure value less than 255

I have built for Christmas a string of 252 leds with various lighting effects using a PIC12F1840 

After compilation I get: Code   :3029/4096    Data:126/256  Hardware Stack : 3/16  Software Stack :80

The "only" problem I had was wanting to add a "complex" procedure : the stack system could not afford  nested procedures.

Simplify your SW leaving only the SW for the  WS2812 building up when you are satisfied with what you get.

Patrick

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/jallist/28af492f193e3e.31fb55b1e1e99c%40gmail.com.

[FraserSmith51]

OK, I now have the large arrays defined by using code from 16f1825_large_array.jal.

const WS2812B_NUM = 176

;target_cpu == PIC_16

const _large_array_core=16

const large_array_1_size = ws2812b_num

const LARGE_ARRAY_1_VARIABLE_SIZE = 1

include large_array_1

const large_array_2_size = ws2812b_num

const LARGE_ARRAY_2_VARIABLE_SIZE = 1

include large_array_2

const LARGE_ARRAY_3_VARIABLE_SIZE = 1

const large_array_3_size = ws2812b_num

include large_array_3

alias agrn is large_array_1               -- grn array

alias ared is large_array_2               -- red array

alias ablu is large_array_3               -- blu array

when I compile it fails with 

my_procedures.jal:311: Too few parameters (1 expected, 0 found)
my_procedures.jal:311: type mismatch
my_procedures.jal:311: Too few parameters (1 expected, 0 found)
my_procedures.jal:311: type mismatch
my_procedures.jal:311: Too few parameters (1 expected, 0 found)

my_procedures.jal:311: type mismatch

where 311 is the last line in the block below. It doesn't see any problem with the lines above that and it has worked before the large arrays were involved.

   for WS2812B_NUM using i loop

      if (i >= ws2812_start_1) & (i <= ws2812_finish_1) then              

         agrn[i] = byte(grn_val)

         ared[i] = byte(red_val)

         ablu[i] = byte(blu_val)

      else

         agrn[i] = 0

         ared[i] = 0

         ablu[i] = 0

      end if

   end loop

   ws2812b_refresh(agrn, ared, ablu)

What am I missing?

Cheers

Fraser

[FraserSmith51]

Hi Patrick

I would be interested in seeing your program. I am trying to get different lighting conditions for a model railway taking in a cycle of a whole day with sun and moon moving along the strip so really wanting subtle changes in colour. Not sure if your six main colours would do that so well but I guess it's worth a look at your method.

You can contact me via the MERG Tayside Area Group

Cheers

Fraser

[Rob CJ]

Hi Fraser,

I compiled your program 'setup_everithing.jal' after including your example for large array in Ambience_Controller_ws2812.jal

It compiles with a warning but that seems to be OK. Not sure if this is the whoo program since the code area seems to be very small.

jal jalv25r9 (compiled Jan 12 2025)

generating p-code

737 tokens, 475257 chars; 11841 lines; 28 files

generating PIC code pass 1

generating PIC code pass 2

39 branches checked, 0 errors

222 data accesses checked, 0 errors

6 skips checked, 0 errors

writing result

/home/rob/Tools/Jallib/lib/ws2812b_common.jal:56: warning: "WS2812B_NUM not defined, defaults to 30"

Code area: 555 of 16384 used (words)

Data area: 37 of 2048 used

Software stack available: 80 bytes

Hardware stack depth 2 of 16

0 errors, 1 warnings

 *  Press any key to close the terminal. 

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Van: jal...@googlegroups.com <jal...@googlegroups.com> namens FraserSmith51 <fra...@cairntoul.net>
Verzonden: zondag 22 februari 2026 11:43
Aan: jallist <jal...@googlegroups.com>
Onderwerp: Re: [jallist] Out of Data Space

 

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[Patrick FROUCHT]

Hi Fraser

As  told before, my program is much simpler and has only six different colors active.yellow light rust color the 

At the beginning there is a general rust yellow color then many white flashes. Then a blue red white full color in various configurations with chasing effect. 

Then the five olympic colors(white or black green red blue yellow) plus purple. Chasing each other.

I don't have the subtle evolution you are looking for.

The added file is my program and randm3.jaj which is much simpler(also less program space and time to execute) than the random.jal. 

Don't hesitate to ask

Patrick

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[FraserSmith51]

Hi Rob

Thanks for having a look at my code. Apologies as I should have said that the main part of the code is Ambience_Controller_WS2812.jal. That will give you a significantly bigger file.

Maybe that will help you to find my problem.

Thanks again

Fraser

[Rob CJ]

Hi Fraser,

It took me some time to get it compiled since the order in which files where included it did not compile in the version you sent. Maybe it was not a final version?

But I could reproduce it and the problem is caused by the fact that large array is not really an array but a trick to make a large array and apparently you cannot pass this type of array as a parameter. I tested it by using the standard data array with a limited number of bytes (<80) and then the problem is gone.

It is also the first time I ran into this issue. The solution I know at this moment if you would switch to a PIC18F. There an array can be 256 bytes per array.

Kind regards,

Rob

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Van: jal...@googlegroups.com <jal...@googlegroups.com> namens FraserSmith51 <fra...@cairntoul.net>

Verzonden: zondag 22 februari 2026 20:58

Aan: jallist <jal...@googlegroups.com>
Onderwerp: Re: [jallist] Out of Data Space

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[FraserSmith51]

Thanks Rob,

The program should be compiled via the Ambience_Controller_WS2812.JAL file. The program is someting that I have been working on intermittantly for several years and It really needs a big tidy up. I started with rain then added thunder. Then came the DFPlayers for trains, city sounds, Big Ben and RGB strip. The reason for recent changes has been to add WS2812 LEDs to get a sun or moon to cross the sky. The 10 chosen WS2812 LEDs work their way along the strip to give some form of directional lighting. It is supplemented by an RGB strip and shares the RGB colour values with the simpler LEDs.

It's too late in the day to start working on your suggestions but I will get back to it in the next day or so. 

Thanks again

Fraser

[Mike]

It wouldn't be difficult to code for handling separate smaller arrays, like:

if index < 74 then
    ws2812b_refresh(agrn1, ared1, ablu1)
else
    ws2812b_refresh(agrn2, ared2, ablu2)
end if

[Rob CJ]

Hi Fraser, Mike,

There is a workaround and that is using the code of ws2812b_common in your own program.

So instead of calling ws2812b_refresh() use the code of routine itself:

   var bit old_gie

   var byte i

   old_gie = INTCON_GIE                      -- save interrupt state

   INTCON_GIE = disabled                     -- temporary disable interrupts

   for WS2812B_NUM using i loop              -- all pixels

      _ws2812b_write_pixel(agrn[i], ared[i], ablu[i])

   end loop

   INTCON_GIE = old_gie                      -- restore interrupt state

   delay_10us(5)                             -- reset

So you do not pass the large array as a parameter. Mabybe nog so nice but it should work.

Kind regards,

Rob

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Van: 'Mike' via jallist <jal...@googlegroups.com>
Verzonden: dinsdag 24 februari 2026 02:59

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[FraserSmith51]

Hi Mike and Rob

Thank you both for your ideas as a way of getting around the size limitation. I am a member of the Model Electronic Railway Group and we have a Special Interest Group for JAL for those interested in using JAL on their railways. We had a Zoom session yesterday evening where I brought up the problem that I had encountered. There was quite a good discussion with two members suggesting alternatives -  just exactly what both of you have suggested!!!  I haven't started on re-coding yet as engaged on other things ATM but I can see that the solutions are not difficult. 

It is very useful to have access to this Forum and for there to be members like you and Patrick willing to provide support. I much appreciate it.

Thanks again

Fraser