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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Best practices to transfer files from PC to SD card in Picomite?
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member  Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Hello all, I would like to copy files from my PC (including folders and individual files). I can of course plug my SD card in my PC and copy that way. Are there any other ways? Can I use for example Teraterm to do this? I see I can transfer individual files (which protocol should I use) - but how do I select where they go (to a: or b:) and how do I transfer folders? Thank you for any pointers! |
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phil99 Guru  Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2449 |
As far as I know in TeraTerm Xmodem can only transfer individual files. The MaxiMite Control Centre (MMEdit / MMCC) is a good way to transfer multiple files. Hidden from view it also uses Xmodem but MMCC automates transferring the files on your list. |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you. Now I just need to figure out mmcc. I have another post related to that. |
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karlelch Senior Member  Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
Hi Gadgetguy, I wrote a python tool to transfer files from and to the picomite. https://github.com/teuler/picom Cheers Thomas |
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| dddns Guru Joined: 20/09/2024 Location: GermanyPosts: 359 |
Tried to get it to run under Ubuntu22 but it complains about not finding tomllib. Tried with tomli as tomllib then errors that a bytes-like object is required, not a str. |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you, this would be amazing... but it does not work. I downloaded the windows package, extracted it - then when I click "picom.exe" a command window very briefly pops up and then it disappears. Nothing else is visible. I tried to run as administrator, same thing. Would you have any suggestions please to try? (I use Windows 11). A tool like this would be really really nice! Thank you! |
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| karlelch Senior Member Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
It does not have a GUI, it is a command line tool, to be used from a shell (under Windows 11, e.g. powershell). You start a shell (powershell) and change into the folder, where you copied picom.exe. The folder "_internal" also needs to be there. Then you call the program using,. e.g., ".\picom p", which should list all COM ports, or ".\picom -h", which prints the help Best Thomas |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you. It works. Studying "help" now. |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Update: I have changed "picom.toml" so it uses COM3 (my picomite is on that), I have not changed anything else. Then I just want to check if Picom sees my Picomite, so I do picom.exe c And I get: .\picom.exe c PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 285, in isPicoMitePresent File "picom.py", line 223, in sendCommand UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x80 in position 5: invalid start byte [PYI-13160:ERROR] Failed to execute script 'picom' due to unhandled exception! ------- This works: .\picom.exe p PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) 1 serial port(s) found : `COM3`, USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3) ------------- But this does not work either .\picom.exe f PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 285, in isPicoMitePresent File "picom.py", line 223, in sendCommand UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x80 in position 5: invalid start byte [PYI-6740:ERROR] Failed to execute script 'picom' due to unhandled exception! ----------------- Any ideas please? Teraterm works and MMCC also seems to work (have not tested too much, but starts and I see the files on the Picomite) Thank you for any suggestions! |
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| karlelch Senior Member Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
Is it possible then you closed Teraterm whil still in the build-in editor or with a program running? Because then, picom cannot correctly communicate with the PicoMite. Please try to connect to the PicoMite via Teraterm, make sure that you are at the prompt level, exit Teraterm and try picomite again. Best Thomas |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you so much Thomas for trying to figure this out! So, I rebooted my computer. Then started Teraterm - checked its connected (by typing "files" at the command prompt), then exited (using "exit") in Teraterm. Then, I go to picom and I get: .\picom.exe p PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) 1 serial port(s) found : `COM3`, USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3) But then .\picom.exe ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 285, in isPicoMitePresent File "picom.py", line 223, in sendCommand UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x80 in position 5: invalid start byte [PYI-9144:ERROR] Failed to execute script 'picom' due to unhandled exception! What else can I try please? Thank you! ------------- Update: I pressed "reset" on the picomite and now I get picom.exe ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Retrieving file tree from `A:` : 0 file(s) and 0 folder(s) found. Content of `A:` : So it works (there is nothing on A). ------ Well I celebrated too early. I tried drive B: - could not switch over (probably bad syntax). But now I get .\picom.exe ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 285, in isPicoMitePresent File "picom.py", line 223, in sendCommand UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x80 in position 5: invalid start byte And I did reset the pico (same way where it worked before) Picom sees it .\picom.exe p PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) 1 serial port(s) found : `COM3`, USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM3) ------------- A few resets later it works again .\picom.exe ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Retrieving file tree from `A:` : 0 file(s) and 0 folder(s) found. Content of `A:` : ------ But then I want to switch over to B: .\picom.exe -d --drive B: PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 285, in isPicoMitePresent File "picom.py", line 223, in sendCommand UnicodeDecodeError: 'utf-8' codec can't decode byte 0x80 in position 14: invalid start byte [PYI-6024:ERROR] Failed to execute script 'picom' due to unhandled exception! -------- And after doing this I try .\picom.exe ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Traceback (most recent call last): File "picom.py", line 1118, in <module> File "picom.py", line 287, in isPicoMitePresent IndexError: list index out of range [PYI-1268:ERROR] Failed to execute script 'picom' due to unhandled exception! So not sure what to do... Sorry for bothering you with this! Edited 2025-05-19 04:09 by Gadgetguy |
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| karlelch Senior Member Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
Thanks for the extensive testing. I am a bit confused why it works sometimes and sometimes not … what Baudrate are you using in Teraterm? Maybe for some reason the Baudrate is too high; you could try to reduce it in the .toml file. Note that „.\picom p“ is not actually connecting to the PicoMite; it just lists the available ports. Therefore, this command is not good for testing if the communication with the PicoMite works. I can do some more testing tomorrow evening. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you send me what PicoMite (firmware, chip) and options you use. Thanks. Best Thomas |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you Thomas - any investigation helps and is VERY appreciated! To answer your questions 1. Baudrate in Teraterm - I am using what Teraterm suggested - 115200 baud. Not sure if faster / slower would also work? 2. The picomite is the reference design by Peter - HDMIUSB 3. The options are: PicoMiteHDMI MMBasic USB RP2350B Edition V6.00.02RC23 OPTION SERIAL CONSOLE COM2,GP8,GP9 OPTION SYSTEM I2C GP20,GP21 OPTION FLASH SIZE 16777216 OPTION COLOURCODE ON OPTION KEYBOARD US, 0, 0, 300, 50 OPTION PICO OFF OPTION RESOLUTION 640x480 @ 252000KHz OPTION HDMI PINS 1, 3, 5, 7 OPTION SDCARD GP29, GP30, GP31, GP32 OPTION KEYBOARD REPEAT 300,50 OPTION AUDIO I2S GP10,GP22', ON PWM CHANNEL 11 OPTION RTC AUTO ENABLE OPTION COUNT GP0,GP1,GP2,GP3 OPTION MODBUFF ENABLE 512 OPTION PLATFORM FM OPTION PSRAM PIN GP47 OPTION HEARTBEAT PIN GP25 > 4. Reduced the baud rate in the .toml file to 115200 and ... it seems to be working!!! I did several quick tests this AM (before switching off for a week of travel) and everything worked (but not perfect yet). On question: what is the correct syntax to switch to drive B please? I get the following .\picom.exe -d --drive B: PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Error: Command `b:` not recognized And if I try this: .\picom.exe -d --drive B PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Error: Invalid drive parameter (`--drive`) This nearly works .\picom.exe -d B: ft PicoM v0.1.7 (beta) Retrieving file tree from `B:` : 2 file(s) and 0 folder(s) found. Content of `B:` : ├──cldr.bas └──fm.bas There is a small issue here: in reality I also have two folders on drive b: So in teraterm I get this: > files B:/ <DIR> di26 <DIR> zmim 17:40 17-05-2025 3072 cldr.bas 17:40 17-05-2025 55552 fm.bas 2 directories, 2 files I will try higher speeds over the weekend and report at which baud rate I start to see problems. But at 115200, it seems to be working fine (except the missing folders on drive B). Thank you again, this is starting to work very nicely! Edited 2025-05-19 16:38 by Gadgetguy |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 4904 |
For small amount of files: Install MMEdit Use MMCC filemanager For complete folders and large files: Put SD card in a PC Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2449 |
The Pico uses a virtual COM Port that runs at USB speed regardless of the baud-rate selected. The only exception is 1200 baud. That puts the Pico in 'Firmware Update' mode, awaiting a .uf2 file. |
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| karlelch Senior Member Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
Hi Gadgetguy If you are using a USB version of the firmware, you are connecting the PicoMite to the PC via the GPIOs and a serial-to-USB adapter, correct? In this configuration, I observed that the timing may need to be adjusted. Try longer delays for the „com_timeout_s“ parameter in the .toml file. You may also need a longer wait time for XModem (see parameter there). The default Baudrate and timings are for the standard firmware and using the onboard USB connector on the Pico. Regarding the issues with B: - I need to test this. This will not be before the weekend, as daytime work is keeping me busy. Best Thomas |
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| karlelch Senior Member Joined: 30/10/2014 Location: GermanyPosts: 230 |
Not, when using the serial connection via the GPIOs (as is default for the USB firmware versions), no? My understanding is that it then uses the set Baudrate. Best Thomas |
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| Gadgetguy Regular Member Joined: 26/04/2025 Location: FrancePosts: 59 |
Thank you Thomas, I am using the usb c port - not sure where that goes. Thank you for looking into the issue with B: |
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