PDS...for a new user

[jom]

Hello all

Just tonight I has been suggested to me to look into PDS as a PIC development system. I have been trying to use MPLAB for some time now. I'm not a full-time user at all but MPLAB doesn't exactly make things easy and inspire you to want to continue to learn. There is always some sort of road block...at least for me.

Hi, its great to see you visiting our forum. Why not try Proton Compiler for FREE? Download the FREE version of Proton Compiler, Its called Amicus18 and its available from HERE Already using proton Compiler??? Get rid of these pesky messages... get LICENSED USER STATUS

So a couple of colleagues suggested PDS to me. I'd like to try a free version first so:

1) Is the free version the Amicus software or should I use the free PDS I see available? I'm not sure what the difference is between this Amicus and the fully cost PDS is either.

2) I already have a number of Microchip devices as programmers such as Pickit2 and what I can the "hockey puck" (forgot the name but it's a debugger/programmer that looks like a puck). Does PDS work with these devices?

3) I also have available to me the mikroElectronika v7 EasyPic. Does this work with PDS?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

jom

[johntabb]

Good morning Jom,
Amicus18 is the free version of PDS, and only runs on circuits using two specific chips. http://www.myamicus.co.uk/content.php
if you use the pre built board, then the progamming boot loader software will be included and you will need a USB A plug, to USB A plug cable to connect the computer to the Amicus18 board... (can be ordered at same time as board...)
this is a complete version of PDS, with the sole exclusion being limitation of two chip types. (one 3.3 volt core, the other 5 volt core)

If you can download a version of PDS without being a licenced user, on this forum, you are probably downloading a pirated version.
please be careful.

regards John

[johntabb]

Sorry Jom, I have never used the Hockey puck, and the easypic7 board probably has the wrong chip installed...

Pickit2 will work with Amicus, if you use the connector on the back of the circuit board, however this will almost certainly over write the Bootloader software... a copy of the Bootloader is available on the Amicus site, to restore the bootloader, later.

regards John

[wastrix]

The hockey puck you refer to is most likely the ICD 2/3. These cannot be used directly with PDS, but you can use them via MPLAB (do all programming in PDS, then load the hex in MPLAB and program). Any programmer with a command line interface can be controlled directly by PDS, if not you can use the default interface to just load the hex file produced.

I believe the EasyPICv7 comes with a 18F45K22, which is supported by PDS. You are probably aware of this, but just to confirm, PDS only works with Microchip's 8-bit core devices (PIC10/12/16/18).

I should also add that not only does PDS have a nice UI and is easy to use, but it is VERY SIGNIFICANTLY more efficient in terms of speed and memory usage than any other (mainly C) compiler that I have tried. Although the language itself is not as powerful as C in terms of libraries, etc. but this is being improved currently.

[RGV250]

Hi Jom,
You might be referring to PDS lite which is quite outdated now, limited to 50 lines and is only really left available for legacy users who do not want to use anything more.
I believe the EasyPIC7 board has 3.3v + 5v operation so you should be able to use either device Amicus18 supports (both 28 pin devices).
I am not sure if the board supports Pickkit2 though but you should have the Mikroelectronica programmer so you should be OK anyway.

Regards,
Bob

[joesaliba]

Hi Jom,

I have EasyPIC 4 and works great with PDS. EasyPIC 7 will also work. The programmer for both boards is the same and adding new programmer to PDS such as the mikroProg that comes with EasyPIC 7 is just a breeze. Hopes this helps.

[jom]

Thanks all!!

On the PDS I downloaded...it's evidently the older "free" version because I got it from the Crownhill site. I also dl'd the Amicus and did notice it only supports one IC. I want to use this free software for evaluation but I don't have the IC that is required for the Amicus. HOWEVER, I think I have an IC that can be used with the free old PDS (which I can put to one of the Microchip programming/eval board which has LEDs and switches on board). So for evaluation purposes would it be best just to use the old PDS software? All I want to do for now is just blink a couple of LED's or maybe get the point where I can read the ADC or some such.

On the other hand since the old PDS is rather limited what's a good way to evaluate since I don't have this 18F55K20 that is required?

Of course, if I decide to buy then I'm sure PDS will support any number of chips I have lying around (I actually four or five presently).

Thanks again!

jom

[wastrix]

The old PDS Lite is now missing a significant number of features present in the new version. If you can't get a 18F25K2x (where are you? In most places you can get them for only a few dollars, or even MChip samples), then you may as well try the lite version. However, I would also recommend you download Amicus as well, just to compile and use some of the newer features of the product.

[See_Mos]

As others have written, the free version is very old and has lots of commands missing or out of date however there is nothing to stop you using the fifty line limit with something like a 16F84 to test flashing LED's, buttons or even text based LCD displays. I don't remember if the Labcenter Proteus simulator was included with the demo but if it is you don't even need any hardware to try out Proton.

The Pickit programmer is easy to integrate into the Proton envireonment but it is just as easy to compile with Proton then programme with the Pickit interface.

The two IC's supported by Amicus are available in DIP packages and they are not expensive, you could build your own test jig, compile with Amicus and programme with PICKit. The Amicus board is also cheap and easy to use. Whatever you decide everything you need for Amicus is available online so it really would be worth the small outlay of an IC or the Amicus board.

[bill9399]

If you do not already have Isis demo version, you can download this direct from Labcenter website at the link below.
See DOWNLOAD menu at top of the page listed.
There should be a number of PIC demo boards included with this.

The same usage restrictions as per PDS distributed versions apply.

http://www.labcenter.com/index.cfm