Microchip Technology DM164134 Data Sheet

DS41159E-page 324

© 2006 Microchip Technology Inc.

The MPLAB C17 and MPLAB C18 Code Development
Systems are complete ANSI C compilers for
Microchip’s PIC17CXXX and PIC18CXXX family of
microcontrollers. These compilers provide powerful
integration capabilities, superior code optimization and
ease of use not found with other compilers. 

For easy source level debugging, the compilers provide
symbol information that is optimized to the MPLAB IDE
debugger.

The MPLINK object linker combines relocatable
objects created by the MPASM assembler and the
MPLAB C17 and MPLAB C18 C compilers. It can link
relocatable objects from precompiled libraries, using
directives from a linker script. 

The MPLIB object librarian manages the creation and
modification of library files of precompiled code. When
a routine from a library is called from a source file, only
the modules that contain that routine will be linked in
with the application. This allows large libraries to be
used efficiently in many different applications. 

The object linker/library features include:

• Efficient linking of single libraries instead of many 

smaller files

• Enhanced code maintainability by grouping 

related modules together

• Flexible creation of libraries with easy module 

listing, replacement, deletion and extraction

The MPLAB C30 C compiler is a full-featured, ANSI
compliant, optimizing compiler that translates standard
ANSI C programs into dsPIC30F assembly language
source. The compiler also supports many command
line options and language extensions to take full
advantage of the dsPIC30F device hardware capabili-
ties and afford fine control of the compiler code
generator. 

MPLAB C30 is distributed with a complete ANSI C
standard library. All library functions have been vali-
dated and conform to the ANSI C library standard. The
library includes functions for string manipulation,
dynamic memory allocation, data conversion, time-
keeping and math functions (trigonometric, exponential
and hyperbolic). The compiler provides symbolic
information for high-level source debugging with the
MPLAB IDE.

MPLAB ASM30 assembler produces relocatable
machine code from symbolic assembly language for
dsPIC30F devices. MPLAB C30 compiler uses the
assembler to produce it’s object file. The assembler
generates relocatable object files that can then be
archived or linked with other relocatable object files and
archives to create an executable file. Notable features
of the assembler include:

• Support for the entire dsPIC30F instruction set

• Support for fixed-point and floating-point data

• Command line interface

• Rich directive set

• Flexible macro language

• MPLAB IDE compatibility

The MPLAB SIM software simulator allows code devel-
opment in a PC hosted environment by simulating the
PICmicro series microcontrollers on an instruction
level. On any given instruction, the data areas can be
examined or modified and stimuli can be applied from
a file, or user defined key press, to any pin. The execu-
tion can be performed in Single-Step, Execute Until
Break or Trace mode. 

The MPLAB SIM simulator fully supports symbolic
debugging using the MPLAB C17 and MPLAB C18
C Compilers, as well as the MPASM assembler. The
software simulator offers the flexibility to develop and
debug code outside of the laboratory environment,
making it an excellent, economical software
development tool.

The MPLAB SIM30 software simulator allows code
development in a PC hosted environment by simulating
the dsPIC30F series microcontrollers on an instruction
level. On any given instruction, the data areas can be
examined or modified and stimuli can be applied from
a file, or user defined key press, to any of the pins. 

The MPLAB SIM30 simulator fully supports symbolic
debugging using the MPLAB C30 C Compiler and
MPLAB ASM30 assembler. The simulator runs in either
a Command Line mode for automated tasks, or from
MPLAB IDE. This high-speed simulator is designed to
debug, analyze and optimize time intensive DSP
routines.