LPCOpen and USART in synchronous mode

[lpcware]

Content originally posted in LPCWare by cosborne2000 on Sat Jun 21 09:16:33 MST 2014
I need to use the USART in synchronous mode and I'm trying to stick with the LPCOpen framework.
The synchronous bits are included in the macros but don't appear to be referenced in the functions.

Can I use the LPCOpen functions for USART synchronous mode?
note: both SPI functions are already in use.

[lpcware]

Content originally posted in LPCWare by cosborne2000 on Mon Jun 23 07:55:15 MST 2014
I've never used the USART in synchronous mode before so I must be missing something basic.

Communication with device is OK with SPI module (SPI1 mode 1 master).  When I switch to USART1 in sync mode I get nothing.
I don't have access to my scope this week so I can't check the waveforms to confirm the signals.

Basic questions:
1. can USART work as a standard SPI mode 1 interface?
2. I assumed that the start and stop bits were not sent in sync mode- is that correct?
3. if I transmit an 8 bit frame in as master, is the RX register now holding 8 bits clocked in during the transmit?
4. is there a basic example available demonstrating the USART in sync mode?