How to fix CMSIS-Zone “Source file not identified” error?

It can feel quite confusing when you open CMSIS-Zone and get the “Source file not identified” error. This causes your project to stop loading the resources it needs, and nothing in the Zone Editor works properly. This guide explains what the error means and how to quickly resolve it so you can get back to your embedded work.

What is the “Source file not identified” error in CMSIS zone?

This error appears when CMSIS-Zone cannot find or read a source file associated with the .zone project. Typically these are XML files, device descriptions, memory cards, or other configuration data that the .zone file depends on. If CMSIS-Zone cannot find that file, it will refuse to load the project.

You normally see this when you open the Zone Editor in Keil MDK or when you load a .zone file after moving a project folder. It also appears when a file path changes, when tool versions are updated, or when the CMSIS package for your MCU is missing.

Common causes of CMSIS-Zone Resource File not identified Error

This problem can occur for several reasons:

• The source file path has been changed or deleted
• The XML descriptor file is corrupt
• Wrong relative or absolute path within the .zone file
• Required CMSIS Pack is missing or outdated
• Folder permissions do not allow access
• Long paths or special characters interfere with reading files
• Version mismatch between CMSIS-Zone and MDK

How to fix CMSIS-Zone “Source file not identified” error?

Try the solutions below one by one until the error disappears.

Solution 1: Reconnect the missing source path in the CMSIS zone

Usually, CMSIS-Zone cannot find the file because the folder has been moved.

Here are the next steps that will help you reconnect the path:

1. Open CMSIS Zone
2. Load your .zone project
3. When the error appears, open the Resources tab
4. Check which file path is missing
5. Browse again to the correct file location
6. Save the .zone file
7. Reload the project

This solution works when the file actually exists, but CMSIS-Zone just lost its path.

Solution 2: Restore or recreate the missing source XML file

If the XML file has been deleted, renamed or damaged, CMSIS-Zone cannot read it.

Follow the steps below:

1. Look in your project’s resource or configuration folders
2. Check for missing XML files
3. Restore them from backup or version control
4. Reload the .zone file

If the file is broken, use the default XML template from your CMSIS-Pack or board support package.

Solution 3: Validate the formatting of your .zone file

Sometimes the .zone file itself is the problem. A small XML error or broken tag can cause CMSIS-Zone to reject any source.

This solution is simple. Open the .zone file in a text editor and check for missing tags, broken formatting, or strange characters. Correct the format and reload the file.

Solution 4: Install or update the required CMSIS package

Many source files come from the CMSIS package for your MCU. If the package is missing, CMSIS-Zone cannot load device descriptions.

Here’s how to fix that:

1. Open wedge MDK
2. Go to Pack Installer
3. Search for your MCU package
4. Install or update it
5. Restart CMSIS-Zone

Once the package is installed, try loading the .zone file again.

Solution 5: Check folder permissions and ownership

If Windows blocks the source folder, CMSIS-Zone cannot read the file.

You can perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on the project folder
2. Open properties
3. Go to Security
4. Give your user full read and write permissions
5. Press OK
6. Reload CMSIS Zone

This is common when projects are stored in protected locations.

Solution 6: Shorten file paths or remove special characters

Long paths or characters such as spaces, brackets or symbols can prevent CMSIS-Zone from processing source files.

Try moving your project to a shorter path, like:

C:\Projects\MyFirmware\

This solves path problems in many cases.

Solution 7: Re-import the project into Keil MDK or uVision

If the workspace is out of date, the tModLoader style cached paths will remain locked. Reimporting forces the tools to rebuild paths.

Just delete the old project from MDK and import it again. Then open the .zone file.

Solution 8: Clear the CMSIS-Zone cache and restart the utility

Sometimes the utility cache crashes. A new restart ensures that CMSIS-Zone reloads the source paths correctly.

Close the program, delete any temporary files from your workspace if necessary, then restart the utility and open the .zone file again.

Solution 9: Move the project back to its original folder

If you moved the entire project to a new drive or path, CMSIS-Zone may still point to the old location. Reverting it back to the original folder often resolves the error.

Here are the steps:

1. Check the original project location
2. Move your current folder back to that path
3. Open the .zone file again
4. Verify that the resources are loaded correctly

Prevention tips to avoid mistakes in the future

Use these habits to avoid this mistake again:

• Keep your folder structure consistent
• Do not rename or delete XML source files
• Install CMSIS-Packs immediately
• Back up .zone files
• Avoid deep folder paths
• Do not move the project after setup
• Make sure your user account has full permissions

Conclusion

The ‘Source file not identified’ error usually appears because CMSIS-Zone cannot find a required XML file or device description. This could be due to changed paths, missing CMSIS packages, corrupted .zone files, or folder permission issues. You can usually resolve the problem by reconnecting file paths or restoring missing resources.

Try each solution slowly until your project loads normally. And if nothing works, you can contact Arm or Keil support for deeper help. If this guide helped you, please feel free to share it with other developers.

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