Page 27 - Making PIC Microcontroller Instruments and Controllers

IISING THE SOFTWANE |l| IHE WII{DOWS EIIV|ROTTMEXI

The sequence to create a program inside a microcontroller is as follows:

l. Wdte the program in the Microcode Studio editor environment.
2, Compile the program.
3. Program the device.
4. Use the dcvice.

Steps 2 to 4 can be combined into one keystrokc. SeeAppendixA.

Loadins the Software

The following pieces of softwaF will be provided with the various components you acquire:

t PICBASIC PRO Compllcr software and manual
a USB Port Progrdmmel software and manual (or software for whatever programmer
yolr decide to buy)
, Microcode Studio (ll1e editor) on disk or downloaded liom the Inrernet

The DOS environment is archaic and can be dif{icult for users not tamiliar with it.
You do not have to deal with DOS to usc t}Ie hardware and soflware we will use.
Everything can be done from the Windows environment. Therelore. DO,S lrill 'lot re
dircrs.red. Iiyou need to use DOS, a section at the beginning of the PICBASIC pRO
Compiler manual wilt tell you what you need to do.
The first manual you need to understand is the manual for the PICBASIC pRO
Compiler This manual covers lrse of the sofrware in the DOS environment. I suggest
you ignore the first pages of the manual and instead read the paragraph (below) thar I
have written on how to tun everything under the Windows enviroffnent. Once yo are
familiar with how the system works, you can go back and leam how to use the software
in the DOS environment. The DOS environmenr provides anumber ofthings that may
be uselirl, and you will want to know about rhese as you become more and more prc,
fi cient with microcontrollers.

Using the Software in the Windows
Environment

,,Whar
The first question that needs to be answered in almosr every endeavor is always
dolneed, what do I have 1()do, and what wili it cost to ger rhejob done?" Accordingly,
we will address this now
Let's assume you already have an IBM PC with a suitable Windows operaring system
and that you know how to use it. Yollr computer needs the lollowing capabilities to le1
you access the hardware and soilware you are going to use ir with. In thjs book, I will