NU32v2: Using the Simulator

NDM 1/4/2010 Page Under construction

Introduction to the MPLAB Simulator

The MPLAB Simulator is a debugging tool that allows you to test code without programming it onto a PIC32. Simple debugging, such as watching the values of variables or registers, can be performed, as well as advanced features, such as simulating inputs from a UART.

Starting a Simulator Project in MPLAB v8.63

• Open MPLAB v8.63.
  • If a project is already open, close it by going to Project -> Close -> (the project name)
• Start a New Project by going to Project -> Project Wizard.
• Follow the steps in the Project Wizard.
  • Select the PIC32MX795F512L as your device.

Project Wizard Device.

• • Select the Microchip PIC32 C-Compiler Toolsuite as your Active Toolsuite. Select the MPLAB C32 C Compiler (pic32-gcc.exe) v1.1(b) from the Toolsuite Contents.

Project Wizard Compiler.

• • Place your New Project File in a new folder.
  • Add existing files to your project folder if you have any.
  • Click Finish to create the New Project.

Sample Code

To learn how to use the Simulator, add the following sample code to your project: ...

Setting up MPLAB SIM

To run the sample code in the simulator,

1. Download and unzip MPLAB_Invest_Example
2. Launch the invest MPLAB project, invest.mcp
1. open invest.c
3. Go to Debugger->Select Tool->MPLAB SIM
4. Go to Debugger->Settings... and click on the "Uart1 IO" tab
5. In the "Uart1 IO" tab
1. click on "Enable Uart1 IO" checkbox
2. in the "Input File" field, click the "Browse" button and add input.txt
3. click on the "Window" radio button
4. hit "OK" to change the settings and close the window
6. Go to Project->Build Options...->Project, select the "MPLAB PIC32 Linker" tab and
1. enter a heap size, 4096 bytes works for this example
2. hit "OK" to change the settings and close the window
7. Compile the program (you can press F10 or go to Project->Make)
8. Run the debugger (press F9 or go to Debugger->Run)
If you see text similar to what you saw in the first day of class scrolling by in the Output window, then everything is working correctly. Next, we'll briefly go over a few basic features of the debugger, but let's reset the debugger first.
9. Halt the debugger by pressing F5 or Debugger->Halt
10. Reset the simulation/microcontroller by pressing F6 or Debugger->Reset->Processor Reset