 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : MPLabXpress.
| Author | Message | ||||
| Phil23 Guru  Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Came across it on page 11 of this months Silicon Chip. Not sure about it's relevance here, but it did have me wondering if it provides a means of loading firmware to chips without having the full IDE installed on a PC. Noticed "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microchip" is a Gig here, and that's not something I'd dump on some PC's just for convenience. A brief read gives me the impression that "You File"???, downloaded to your PC, then you upload it to the device. 
Make me wonder if once you have an Account, you can just log in from any PC, plug in a PicKit3, choose any local HEX file & upload it to a device. Java doing all the work of the usual IPE Cheers Phil |
||||
Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9589 |
Are you aware of Robert Rozee's ASCII programmer that uses an Arduino Nano, and a simple command-line DOS type programmer tool? I've been using this myself now as a replacement for the GIGANTIC MPLAB-X, just in order to get hold of it's IPE. No installation of any IDE needed at all - all you need is the little ascii programmer board, the DOS-type program(pic32prog.exe) which is free, and your HEX file. Not sure if you were aware of that thing or not, but it sure beats installing a 100MB+ IDE package just to program chips if that's all you ever do. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Yes I've a read a bit about that. At this stage it seems like the MPLAB XPRESS only supports 8 bit devices. There's a few mentions of full support later in 2016. Sounds like either is a good solution. Cheers. |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9589 |
If you would like an ASCII ICSP PCB for free, I am happy to help spread the word. I would send you the blank PCB, and all you would need would be a Arduino Nano module from eBay for about US$3, and a few resistors and a zener diode and you could make your own ASCII programmer. You can read Rob's construction manual here. For US$10 I can send you a full kit including the Arduino Nano module - see my website. Rob's ASCII programmer will program anything including 8-bit and 32-bit MCU's. I seem to recall that Rob or some other member here even wrote a basic GUI for the program, allowing you to choose the HEX file and upload it all via a point-and-click window rather then in the command line - I would have to have a hunt around the forums for that, I do remember it. Perhaps if Rob reads this thread, he will post a link or details about that. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Which program is used for programming 8-bit MCU's with the ASCII ICSP? I am only aware of the PIC32PROG.exe capable of programming the PIC32 range. Don't forget that a PicKit3 is not only a programmer but is also used for debugging. Depending on your needs and plans for the future a PicKit3 can be a valuable tool. Microblocks. Build with logic. |
||||
| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4036 |
+1 and a clone PICkit3 is cheap What's daft is Microchip forcing VAST installs. John |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9589 |
Oh, I thought that pic32prog could also do the 8-bit chips. I stand corrected. PK3 does have it's advantages. In my case, all I need is a programmer. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Might take you up on that Grog, complete kit. It's a pain at times to be tied to MPE on 1 particular PC. Phil |
||||
| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9589 |
Just to hammer home what other members have corrected me on above: - ASCII ICSP can only program PIC32 chips(all Maximite/Micromite IC's), but I don't think it can do the 8-bit ones - Is a programmer only, can't be used for debugging work if you are developing code. If that is still OK with you, flick me a PM, and we can go from there. I have ASCII ICSP complete kits in stock here. Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
||||
| Chris Roper Senior Member  Joined: 19/05/2015 Location: South AfricaPosts: 280 |
Talking of MPLab Xpress, the MPLab Xpress Evaluation Board has an interesting programer built in. It appears as a USB drive on your computer and you save the HEX file to the drive in order to flash the PIC. On the Xpress Board the Programmer is integral but we built one from discrete components, Microchip gave us the source, and it was able to program several device,s not just the PIC16F18855 on the Xpress Board. I hope that "drag and drop" is the future of all PIC programming, no more need for MPIDE or similar tools. Cheers Chris http://caroper.blogspot.com/ |
||||
| robert.rozee Guru Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 2430 |
here is a copy of the win32 GUI i wrote, with a couple of little bug fixes: 2016-06-28_123424_P32P_GUI_r5.zip TassyJim also wrote a GUI, though struck some problems (as i recall) with launching pic32prog while capturing the output. his GUI was written in basic, while mine is written in delphi. the firmware uploaded to the nano by pic32prog is (in theory) capable of programming just about any PIC, including 8-bit parts. however, pic32prog only knows about programming PIC32 devices. i have tried to enthuse the various authors of software that programs smaller PICs (WinPicProg, Picprog, Wisp648, IC-Prog, PICPgm, PP06) into adding support for the ascii ICSP protocol, but had no success. alas, much of the software seems to have been largely abandoned. anyone who wishes to try should feel free to have another go. cheers, rob :-) |
||||
| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
That is actually what i am working on for the future version of my USB-Serial/Programmer. I currently have a working pic16f1455 (and other similar chips) programmer that is programmed by sending the hex file over the USB. The code to make it a mass storage device is pretty buggy at the moment and will cost me some time to get it to work. Chris, Is the source downloadable or do you need to request it from Microchip? Microblocks. Build with logic. |
||||
| Chris Roper Senior Member Joined: 19/05/2015 Location: South AfricaPosts: 280 |
We got it by request because Microchip support the Great Cow Basic Project and were keen for us to integrate the MPLab Xpress Evaluation Board as supported hardware. I will ask the project lead if it came with restrictions or if we can share it. It runs on the PIC18LF25K50 so the PIC16F1455 may not have enough grunt to handle it. Cheers Chris http://caroper.blogspot.com/ |
||||
vegipete Guru Joined: 29/01/2013 Location: CanadaPosts: 1129 |
The source code for the PIC18 on the MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board is available on GitHub. Visit Vegipete's *Mite Library for cool programs. |
||||
| MicroBlocks Guru Joined: 12/05/2012 Location: ThailandPosts: 2209 |
Great. I have some studying to do. :) Microblocks. Build with logic. |
||||
 Print this page |
 |
The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia. | © JAQ Software 2025 |
