Microchip Technology PICkit 3 Starter Kit DV164130 DV164130 User Manual

© 2009 Microchip Technology Inc.

DS51795A-page 27

How to get started using the PICkit 3 programmer/debugger is discussed.

• Starting the MPLAB IDE Software

• Creating a Project

• Viewing the Project

• Building the Project

• Setting Configuration Bits

• Setting the Debugger or Programmer

• Debugger/Programmer Limitations

After installing the MPLAB IDE software (Section 3.2 “Installing the Software”), 
invoke it by using any of these methods:

• Select Start>Programs>Microchip>MPLAB IDE vx.xx>MPLAB IDE, where vx.xx is 

the version number.

• Double click the MPLAB IDE desktop icon.

• Execute the file mplab.exe in the mplab ide\core subdirectory of the MPLAB 

IDE installation directory.

For more information on using the software, see:

• “MPLAB IDE User's Guide” (DS51519) – Comprehensive guide for using MPLAB 

IDE.

• The on-line help files – The most up-to-date information on MPLAB IDE and 

PICkit 3 programmer/debugger.

• Readme files – Last minute information on each release is included in Readme 

for MPLAB IDE.txt

 and Readme for PICkit 3 Debugger.txt. Both files 

are found in the Readmes subdirectory of the MPLAB IDE installation directory.

The easiest way to create a new project is to select Project>Project Wizard. With the 
help of the Project Wizard, a new project and the language tools for building that project 
can be created. The wizard will guide you through the process of adding source files, 
libraries, etc., to the various “nodes” on the project window. See MPLAB IDE 
documentation for more detail on using this wizard. The basic steps are provided here:

• Select your device (e.g., PIC18F45K20)

• Select a language toolsuite (e.g., Microchip C Compiler Toolsuite)

• Name the project

• Add application files (e.g., program.c, support.s, counter.asm)

If you do not have a custom linker script in your project, the Project 
Manager will select the appropriate linker script for you.