Contents

Notice to Customers 1. What is MPLAB X IDE? 1.1. An Overview of Embedded Systems 1.1.1. Differences Between an Embedded Controller and a Personal Computer 1.1.2. Components of a Microcontroller 1.1.3. Implementing an Embedded System Design with MPLAB X IDE 1.2. The Development Cycle 1.3. Project Manager 1.4. Language Tools 1.5. Target Debugging 1.6. Device Programming 1.7. Components of MPLAB X IDE 1.8. MPLAB X IDE Help 1.9. Other MPLAB X IDE Documentation 1.10. Microchip Website 1.11. Microchip Store 1.12. Programming Center 1.13. MPLAB X IDE Updates 1.14. Working Outside the IDE 2. Before You Begin 2.1. Review Installation Requirements 2.2. Install JRE and MPLAB X IDE 2.3. Install the USB Device Drivers (for Hardware Tools) 2.3.1. Before You Install MPLAB X IDE 2.3.2. If MPLAB IDE v8.xx is NOT Installed on Your System 2.3.3. If MPLAB IDE v8.xx is Installed on Your System 2.3.3.1. If You Have Windows XP 64, Manually Switch 2.3.3.2. If You Have Windows 7 or 8, Use Administrator Mode 2.3.3.3. Switch USB Device Drivers (for Hardware Tools) 2.3.3.4. If You Need to Manually Switch the Drivers 2.3.3.5. Tool Communication Issues 2.4. Connect to a Target (for Hardware Tools) 2.5. Install the Language Tools 2.6. Launch the IDE and View the Desktop 2.7. Shop the MPLAB X Store 2.8. Launch Multiple Instances of the IDE 2.8.1. Setting Up Hardware Tools to Work with Multiple Instances 2.8.2. Invoking Instances of the IDE 2.9. Launch Multiple Versions of the IDE 2.10. Launch using Startup Parameters 3. Tutorial 3.1. Installing and Setting Up the Software 3.2. Connecting the Hardware 3.3. Downloading the Example Code 3.4. Opening the Example Project in MPLAB X IDE 3.5. Setting Project Properties 3.6. Running the Code 3.7. Debugging the Code 3.8. Setting Breakpoints 3.9. Stepping Through Code 3.10. Viewing Variable Values 3.11. Watching Symbol Values Change 3.12. Viewing I/O Registers 3.13. Viewing Device Memory (including Configuration Bits) 3.14. Programming a Device 4. Basic Tasks 4.1. Create a New Project 4.1.1. MPLAB X IDE v5 New Project Format 4.1.2. Launch New Project Wizard 4.1.3. Step 1: Choose Project 4.1.4. Step 2: Select Device 4.1.5. Step 3: Select Header 4.1.6. Step 4: Select Tool 4.1.6.1. Project Tool Support 4.1.7. Step 5: Select Plugin Board 4.1.8. Step 6: Select Compiler 4.1.8.1. Supported Language Tools 4.1.8.2. Download Latest MPLAB XC Compilers 4.1.9. Step 7: Select Project Name and Folder 4.2. View Changes to Desktop 4.3. Open Project Properties 4.4. View or Make Changes to Project Properties 4.5. Set Up or Change Debugger/Programmer Tool Options 4.6. Set Up or Change Language Tool Options 4.7. Set Language Tool Locations 4.7.1. Add or Change a Toolchain 4.7.2. Remove a Toolchain 4.7.3. About Toolchain Paths 4.8. Set Other Tool Options 4.9. Add Files to a Project 4.9.1. Launch New File Wizard 4.9.2. Create a New File 4.9.3. Add Existing Files to a Project 4.9.3.1. Add Files in the Project Folder 4.9.3.2. Add Files Outside the Project Folder 4.9.4. Edit Code in Files 4.9.5. Add and Set Up Library and Object Files 4.9.5.1. Libraries Folder 4.9.5.2. Project Properties Window: Libraries Category 4.9.5.3. Project Properties Window: Librarian Category 4.9.6. Set File and Folder Properties 4.10. Set Build Properties 4.10.1. Change Project Configuration Type 4.10.2. Execute this line before/after the build 4.10.3. Insert unprotected checksum in user ID memory 4.10.4. Normalize hex file 4.11. Build a Project 4.12. Run Code 4.12.1. Run Considerations 4.13. Debug Code 4.13.1. Debug Macros Generated 4.13.2. Debug Considerations 4.14. Control Program Execution with Breakpoints 4.14.1. Set or Clear a Simple Line Breakpoint 4.14.2. Set Breakpoints with the Breakpoint Dialog 4.14.3. Set or Clear Breakpoints in the Breakpoints Window 4.14.4. Set a Breakpoint Sequence (Device Dependent) 4.14.5. Set a Breakpoint Tuple (Device Dependent) 4.14.6. See Breakpoint Address(es) 4.14.7. Hardware Breakpoint Usage 4.14.8. Dual Partition Devices and Breakpoints 4.14.9. Breakpoint Applications 4.14.10. Compiler Optimizations and Breakpoints 4.14.11. Breakpoint Resource Usage 4.14.12. Breakpoint Awareness 4.14.13. Broken Breakpoint Icon 4.15. Step Through Code 4.16. Watch Symbol Values Change 4.17. Watch Local Variable Values Change 4.18. View or Change Device Memory 4.19. Set Configuration Values in the Configuration Bits Window 4.20. Program a Device 5. Additional Tasks 5.1. Work with Device Packs 5.1.1. Install Packs during MPLAB X IDE Install 5.1.2. Install Packs after MPLAB X IDE Install 5.1.3. Switch Installed Packs 5.1.4. Packs on the Web 5.2. Open an Existing MPLAB X IDE Project 5.3. Import an Existing MPLAB IDE v8 Project 5.3.1. Open the Import MPLAB IDE v8 Project Wizard 5.3.2. Use the Import MPLAB IDE v8 Project Wizard 5.4. Prebuilt Projects 5.5. Loadable Projects, Files and Symbols 5.5.1. Projects Window – Loadables Setup 5.5.2. Project Properties Window – Loading Setup 5.5.3. The Preferred Method to Use Loadables 5.6. Loadable Projects and Files: Bootloaders 5.7. Library Projects 5.8. Import Atmel Studio 7 or Atmel START Project 5.8.1. Import Atmel Project - Locate Project File 5.8.2. Import Atmel Project - Select Device 5.8.3. Import Atmel Project - Select Tool 5.8.4. Import Atmel Project - Select Compiler 5.8.5. Import Atmel Project - Select Device Support 5.8.6. Import Atmel Project - Select Project Name and Folder 5.8.7. Import Atmel Project - Summary 5.9. Other Embedded Projects 5.10. Sample Projects 5.11. Work with Other Types of Files 5.12. Modify or Create Code Templates 5.13. Switch Hardware or Language Tool 5.14. Modify Project Folders and Encoding 5.15. Use the Stopwatch 5.16. View the Disassembly Window 5.17. View the Call Stack 5.18. View the Call Graph 5.19. View the Dashboard Display 5.19.1. Dashboard Groups 5.19.2. Dashboard Icons 5.20. View Registers for the Project (I/O View) 5.21. Improve Your Code 5.22. Control Source Code using Local History 5.23. Control Source Code using a Revision Control System 5.23.1. Saving Project Files 5.23.2. Resolving Conflicts in Revision Controlled Files 5.23.3. Building a Project with Read-Only Files 5.24. Collaborate on Code Development and Error Tracking 5.25. Compare MPLAB XC Compiler Free vs. PRO Licenses 5.26. Add Plugin Tools 6. Advanced Tasks & Concepts 6.1. Speed Up MPLAB X IDE 6.2. Speed Up Build Times 6.3. Work with Multiple Projects 6.4. Work with Multiple Configurations 6.4.1. Manage Configurations Dialog 6.4.2. Add a New Configuration 6.4.3. Add a Duplicate Configuration 6.4.4. Manage Files in Configurations 6.4.5. Configuration Names 6.4.6. Configuration Macros 6.5. Create Dual Core Projects 6.6. Create User Makefile Projects 6.6.1. New Project - User Makefile 6.6.2. User Makefile Project Folder and Working Folder 6.6.3. Example of a Makefile Project 6.7. Use Linked Resources for Source File Folders 6.8. Work with Third-Party Hardware Tools 6.9. Use Code Coverage 6.10. Log Data 6.11. Package an MPLAB X IDE Project 6.12. Hardware Tool Connections and Debugging 6.13. Use IDE Scripting 6.14. Checksums 6.15. Configurations 7. Editor 7.1. Editor Usage 7.2. Editor Options 7.3. Hyperlinks in Code 7.4. Editor Red Bangs 7.5. Code Folding 7.6. C Code Refactoring 7.7. C/C++ Code Error Directive 8. Project Files and Folders 8.1. Projects Window View 8.2. Files Window View 8.3. Classes Window View 8.4. Favorites Window View 8.5. Path, File and Folder Name Restrictions 8.6. Path, File and Folder Project Recommendations 8.7. Viewing User Configuration Data 8.8. Importing an MPLAB IDE v8 Project – Relative Paths 8.9. Moving, Copying or Renaming a Project 8.10. Deleting a Project 9. Troubleshooting 9.1. USB Driver Installation Issues 9.2. Operating System Issues 9.3. NetBeans Platform Issues 9.4. MPLAB X IDE Issues 9.5. Errors 9.6. Forums 10. Desktop Reference 10.1. Menus 10.1.1. File Menu 10.1.2. Edit Menu 10.1.3. View Menu 10.1.4. Navigate Menu 10.1.5. Source Menu 10.1.6. Refactor Menu 10.1.7. Production Menu 10.1.8. Debug Menu 10.1.9. Team Menu 10.1.10. Tools Menu 10.1.11. Window Menu 10.1.12. Help Menu 10.2. Toolbars 10.2.1. File Toolbar 10.2.2. Clipboard Toolbar 10.2.3. Status Flags Toolbar 10.2.4. Undo/Redo Toolbar 10.2.5. Run Toolbar 10.2.6. Debug Toolbar 10.2.7. Performance Toolbar 10.2.8. MPLAB X Store Toolbar 10.2.9. How Do I Toolbar 10.2.10. Editor Toolbar 10.2.11. Toolbar Features 10.2.12. Customize Toolbars 10.3. Status Bar 10.4. Grayed Out or Missing Items and Buttons 11. MPLAB X IDE Windows Behavior 11.1. MPLAB X IDE Windows Management 11.2. Banked Data Memory and Values Displayed in Windows 12. MPLAB X IDE Windows and Dialogs 12.1. Action Items Window 12.2. Breakpoints Window 12.3. New Breakpoint Dialog 12.3.1. Line Breakpoints 12.3.2. Data Breakpoints 12.3.3. Address Breakpoints 12.3.4. Event Breakpoint 12.3.5. Function Breakpoints 12.3.6. Pass Count Operation 12.4. Call Stack Window 12.5. Customize Toolbars Window 12.6. Dashboard Window 12.7. Disassembly Window 12.8. I/O View Window 12.9. Memory Windows - 8- and 16-Bit Devices 12.9.1. Program Memory Window 12.9.2. File Registers Window 12.9.3. SRAM Data Memory Window 12.9.4. SFRs Window 12.9.5. I/O Memory (SFRs) Window 12.9.6. Configuration Bits Window 12.9.7. EE Data Memory Window 12.9.8. Device Information Window 12.9.9. Hardware Stack Window 12.9.10. Linear Data Window 12.9.11. User ID Memory Window 12.10. Memory Windows - 32-Bit Devices 12.10.1. Execution Memory Window 12.10.2. Data Memory Window 12.10.3. Peripherals Window 12.10.4. Configuration Bits Window 12.10.5. CPU Registers Window 12.10.6. External EBI, SQI, or DDR Memory Window 12.10.7. User ID Memory Window 12.11. Memory Windows Associated Dialogs 12.11.1. Memory Windows Go To Dialog 12.11.2. Memory Windows Find Dialog 12.11.3. Memory Windows Output to File Dialog 12.11.4. Memory Windows Import/Export Table Dialog 12.11.5. Memory Windows Print Dialog 12.12. Message Center 12.13. Output Window 12.14. Project Properties Window 12.15. Projects Window 12.16. Tools Options Window, Embedded 12.16.1. Generic Settings Tab 12.16.2. Project Options Tab 12.16.3. Build Options Tab 12.16.4. Managed Tools Tab 12.16.5. Suppressible Messages Tab 12.16.6. Diagnostics Tab 12.16.7. Other Tab 12.17. Tools Options Window, Plugins 12.18. Trace Window 12.19. Watches Window 12.20. Wizards 13. NetBeans Windows and Dialogs 13.1. NetBeans Specific Windows and Window Menus 13.2. NetBeans Specific Dialogs 14. Configuration Settings Summary 14.1. AVR GCC Toolchain 14.2. Arm GCC Toolchain 14.3. XC Toolchains 14.4. MPASM Toolchain 14.5. HI-TECH® PICC™ Toolchain 14.6. HI-TECH® PICC-18™ Toolchain 14.7. C18 Toolchain 14.8. ASM30 Toolchain 14.9. C30 Toolchain 14.10. C32 Toolchain 15. 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