20 May 16
originally posted about two weeks ago MORE QUESTIONS.
Please help me if anyone can. This may get lengthy.
I think I have bitten off more than I can chew.
About me...
I'm 63 years old and not getting any younger.
Total newbie to pics.
A few weeks ago I decided to look into programming a few Pics to drive a 2 x 16 LCD.
I have done some visual basic programming (many years ago) but decided to go the full hog and buy a Pickit 3 clone and learn C.
How many versions of C are there?
While I waited for it to arrive I downloaded MPLAB X IDE.
I found that it has no or very little support for 2 x 16 LCD so I uninstalled it and found it didn't uninstall completely. It left a few folders and files behind. These are outlined in a previous post.
I installed Microchip XC8 v1.37 and with a little help managed to get it running.
I have so far been unable to get a program to work.
I have downloaded complete projects including header files etc and still get errors.
I have watched videos and using the Windows Snipping Tool (very handy tool) pause, copy / past to word and then printed it so I could type the code in.
Just about every line in the code has an error mark in the line number column.
Most of them have a message when I hover the mouse over the error flag like
Unable to resolve identifier Nop. and nop and NOP
Unable to resolve identifier SetDDRamAddr.
When I try to build the program I always seem to get 2 errors that always seem to be the same.
A snap shot included.
I have also copy/pasted displayed files with the same results.
My main idea is to have the Pic monitor various parts of my power supply.
It comprises of two power supply boards running from 2 separate transformers i.e.
two completely separate Supplies.
Monitoring
Over current in both positive and negative supplies taken from the current limit led circuit.
Variation of over say .25 volts between supplies using a window comparator
Heat sink temperature etc. Or at least over temperature.
Every input will have an Opto Coupler for full isolation.
The chips I have had for a few years bought in a bulk lot of components are PIC 16F84 20meg. NOT PIC16F84A...
Once I get a couple of projects working I will buy bigger and more versatile chips and try to do silly things like read the voltages and temperature and have this displayed and perhaps even a tiny speaker as an alarm just in case I don't see there is an alarm condition.
13 June 16
have had a couple of clean compiles but so far all I have been able to do is get a program into a chip but it doesn't run or even oscillate.
![Banging Head |O](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/bangheadonwall.gif)
I am able to upload hex files to the chip and download from the chip.
![Scared :scared:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/scared.gif)
Silly question time.
If I downloaded an earlier version than XC8 v1.37 would this help me get all of the required header files etc ?
If so what would be a good version to try?
Do software creators get their jollies by only issuing 3/4 of the header files or something.
![Laughing :-DD](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif)
Will pickit3 work with other software other than MPLAB.
Is there free version of Hitec C that won't stop working after 14 days.
There is a full version of the LCD driver I am trying to create as a demo in HiTec but this will no longer compile as HiTec has stopped working after 2 weeks.
I get a clean compile and am able to upload it into a chip but it does nothing.
I have tried to find a simple blinking light program for pic16f84 / mplab, to make sure I am doing everything right, but even they seem to be hard to find.
How the hell does anyone learn this language.
Many sample programs I have found for blinking lights are in assembly. Don't want to try to learn another language at my time of life.
I eagerly await any help I can get.
![Popcorn :popcorn:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/EatingPopcorn.jpg)