SVDConv.exe is a command-line utility to validate CMSIS-SVD files and to generate CMSIS-compliant device header files. SVDConv.exe is distributed with the ARM::CMSIS Pack (in the CMSIS\Utilities directory) together with the CMSIS-SVD schema file.

SVDConv.exe performs the following operations:

Checks the syntactical and structural compliance with the specified CMSIS-SVD format.
Checks the consistency, correctness, and completeness of the CMSIS-SVD file against the CMSIS-SVD schema file.
Generates CMSIS-compliant device header files, which can be used for software development.

Note: Consider using --strict option to receive all pedantic warnings. Some rules are skipped by default due to backward compatibility reasons. All newly developed/updated SVD files should rather respect all rules.

Operation

SVDConv.exe is invoked form the command line. The general command format is:

SVDConv.exe <SVD_file> <options>

<options>	Short Name	Description
none	Validation	Perform a validation check of the SVD file. Errors and warnings are printed on screen.
-b	Log File	Specify the log file name for writing messages. Default: screen.
-o	Output Path	Specify an output path for the generated device header file or log file. Default: current directory.
--generate=header	Generate Device Header File	Generates the device header file. The name of the generated file is derived from the value of the tag <device<name> in the CMSIS-SVD file. Refer to device.
--generate=partition	Generate Partition file for Cortex-M Security Extensions (Armv8-M)	Generates the device partition file. The name of the generated file is composed of partition_ and the value of the device <name> (for example, partition_CMSDK_ARMv8MBL.h). Refer to /device element. The content of the file uses Configuration Wizard annotations and is derived from the SAU-specific information of the /device/cpu/sauRegionsConfig element and the interrupts specified in the /device/peripherals element.
--fields=enum	Bit-field Enums	Generates enum lists for each field value description contained in the CMSIS-SVD input file. Must be used in combination with --generate=header.
--fields=macro	Bit-field Macros	Generates position and mask C-Macros for each field description contained in the CMSIS-SVD input file. Must be used in combination with --generate=header.
--fields=struct	Bit-field Structs	Generates bit fields for each field description contained in the CMSIS-SVD input file. Must be used in combination with --generate=header.
--fields=struct-ansic	ANSI Bit-field Structs	Generates MISRA-compliant structures for each bitfield. The generated code is not CMSIS-compliant! Must be used in combination with --generate=header.
--strict	Strict error checking	RECOMMENDED! Applies strict error checking and generates a lot more messages.

Return Codes

SVDConv.exe returns the following codes:

Code	Description	Action
0	OK	No action required. Validation and conversion performed without errors.
1	WARNINGS	Warnings should be checked an possibly removed. The header file is created and could be used.
2	ERRORS	Errors in the SVD description file. Important elements are missing and must be corrected.
3	Error in command line	Check and correct the command line arguments.

Examples

Retrieve help information on screen.
SVDConv.exe

Perform a consistency check by passing only the SVD file name. Errors and warnings are printed on screen.

SVDConv.exe ARM_Example.svd

The result is printed on screen:

   MVCM3110.svd(1688) : info
   <description> missing for value '2 : MODE2'
   MVCM3110.svd(1692) : info
   <description> missing for value '3 : MODE3'
   MVCM3110.svd(1696) : info
   <description> missing for value '4 : MODE4'
   Area of improvements:
   * Description contains 267 <fields> defined without associated <enumeratedValues>
   Found 0 Errors and 1 Warnings
   Return Code: 1 (WARNINGS)

Generate the header file. Performs a consistency check. Errors and warnings are printed on screen.
SVDConv.exe ARM_Example.svd --generate=header

Code snippet from the generated header file showing the structure for TIMER0.

/* ================ TIMER0 ================ */

typedef struct {

__IO uint32_t CR;

__IO uint16_t SR;

__I uint16_t RESERVED0[5];

__IO uint16_t INT;

__I uint16_t RESERVED1[7];

__IO uint32_t COUNT;

__IO uint32_t MATCH;

union {

__O uint32_t PRESCALE_WR;

__I uint32_t PRESCALE_RD;

};

__I uint32_t RESERVED2[9];

__IO uint32_t RELOAD[4];

} TIMER0_Type;
Generate the header file containing bit fields. Performs a consistency check. Errors and warnings are printed on screen.
SVDConv.exe ARM_Example.svd --generate=header --fields=struct

Code snippet from the generated header file showing the structure for TIMER0.
Compare to the code snippet above.
/* ================ TIMER0 ================ */

typedef struct {

union {

__IO uint32_t CR;

struct {

__IO uint32_t EN : 1;

__O uint32_t RST : 1;

__IO uint32_t CNT : 2;

__IO uint32_t MODE : 3;

__IO uint32_t PSC : 1;

__IO uint32_t CNTSRC : 4;

__IO uint32_t CAPSRC : 4;

__IO uint32_t CAPEDGE : 2;

uint32_t : 2;

__IO uint32_t TRGEXT : 2;

uint32_t : 2;

__IO uint32_t RELOAD : 2;

__IO uint32_t IDR : 2;

uint32_t : 3;

__IO uint32_t S : 1;

} CR_b;

};

union {

__IO uint16_t SR;

struct {

__I uint16_t RUN : 1;

uint16_t : 7;

__IO uint16_t MATCH : 1;

__IO uint16_t UN : 1;

__IO uint16_t OV : 1;

uint16_t : 1;

__I uint16_t RST : 1;

uint16_t : 1;

__I uint16_t RELOAD : 2;

} SR_b;

};

__I uint16_t RESERVED0[5];

union {

__IO uint16_t INT;

struct {

__IO uint16_t EN : 1;

uint16_t : 3;

__IO uint16_t MODE : 3;

} INT_b;

};

__I uint16_t RESERVED1[7];

__IO uint32_t COUNT;

__IO uint32_t MATCH;

union {

__O uint32_t PRESCALE_WR;

__I uint32_t PRESCALE_RD;

};

__I uint32_t RESERVED2[9];

__IO uint32_t RELOAD[4];

} TIMER0_Type;