BUSMASTER supports XCP: XCP on CAN arrives in 3.2.2.44

Does BUSMASTER support XCP? Yes. BUSMASTER 3.2.2.44 (Build 439), maintained and released by BUSMUST, was released on September 2, 2026 with a new XCP on Classic CAN measurement and calibration workflow.

Using the ECU’s A2L file, BUSMASTER can parse measurement and calibration objects, read internal ECU variables, run polling or DAQ acquisition, and modify writable calibration parameters with read-back verification.

The XCP support described here was added by BUSMUST on the open-source BUSMASTER base; it is not part of the original upstream base.

XCP measurement and calibration window in BUSMASTER 3.2.2.44

From CAN traffic analysis to internal ECU measurement

XCP stands for Universal Measurement and Calibration Protocol. It connects ECUs with measurement and calibration systems so engineers can access internal measurement variables and adjust calibration parameters within the permissions exposed by the ECU.

An A2L file describes variable and parameter names, addresses, data types, conversion rules, units, and access properties. Once the file is loaded, BUSMASTER can find objects by name, display physical values, and add selected variables to a measurement or calibration workspace.

BUSMASTER 3.2.2.44 introduced XCP on Classic CAN. The XCP workflow reuses a Classic CAN channel already configured in BUSMASTER; communication parameters should follow the A2L and XCP configuration for the target ECU project.

Three core additions in 3.2.2.44

A2L measurement and calibration object parsing

BUSMASTER imports A2L files and presents measurement and calibration objects separately. Engineers can search by variable name and inspect physical values, units, and access properties without manually handling addresses and raw bytes.

Polling and DAQ acquisition

The release provides several ways to read variables:

Read on demand: acquire the current value once;
Polling: read variables sequentially at a configured interval;
Dynamic DAQ: receive event-driven acquisition data from the ECU;
Automatic: try DAQ first and fall back to polling when the required conditions are unavailable.

Polling provides a straightforward way to verify communication and object interpretation when connecting to a new ECU. ECUs with dynamic DAQ support can then use event-driven continuous acquisition.

BUSMASTER XCP settings for selecting a CAN channel, configuring CTO and DTO CAN IDs, and loading an A2L file

Calibration writes with read-back verification

Before writing a permitted calibration parameter, BUSMASTER checks its data type, access properties, conversion rule, and value range.

After a successful write, BUSMASTER reads the same object again and displays the value returned by the ECU:

Enter a physical value → write to the ECU → read back automatically → display the ECU value

Calibration changes can directly affect ECU behavior. Confirm the object’s meaning, unit, valid range, and the current vehicle or test-bench state before writing. A protected ECU also requires a Seed & Key provider DLL that matches the project.

Working alongside existing BUSMASTER workflows

XCP uses a Classic CAN channel already configured in BUSMASTER and can be correlated with CAN Trace, Logging, Transmit Window, TX Task, and UDS diagnostic activity.

For example, engineers can send a control frame or run a UDS operation while observing internal ECU variable changes through XCP, relating bus behavior and diagnostic responses to the ECU’s internal state.

This article records the release milestone when XCP first entered BUSMASTER; it is not an exhaustive capability matrix for later versions. As BUSMASTER continues to evolve, refer to the latest release notes and online documentation for current XCP functionality and compatibility.

The BUSMUST download center remains the authoritative record for the current version, build number, file size, and SHA-256 checksum.