This page contains information for the Graphics Library found in Microchip Libraries for Applications (MLA). It is not relevant for the MPLAB® Harmony Graphics Library.
Summary
This article shows how to use the Graphics Resource Converter (GRC) to import fonts into a Graphics project based on the MLA. This tutorial places the imported font into program memory.
Starting the GRC Utility
The GRC is located in the MLA Installation directory:
…microchip/mla/vYYYY-MM-DD/framework/gfx/utilities/grc
Linux and Apple OS X® users launch the resource converter by executing grc.jar, and Microsoft® Windows users invoke it by executing launch_grc.bat.
1
Configuring the GRC
- From the GRC user interface, select Project then Settings.
- For this example configure the GRC to place imported images into internal program memory (internal Flash).
- Set the Graphics Module Bits per pixel to 16 (16 bpp).
- When working with PIC® MCUs which have an internal graphics module, such as the PIC24FDA series, the Graphics Module option can be selected to set the image format.
- After configuring the GRC select OK
2
Starting the Import Process
To begin importing an image, select File then Add Images.
3
Selecting the Image to Import
After selecting Add Image, you will be directed to browse and locate either a bitmap or a JPEG image to import into the project. Select the file, then press Open.
In this example, we will use the bitmap image NewImage.bmp.
4
Convert the Image
When you have finished selecting the images you wish to import, select Project then Convert.
Before importing, the GRC will ask you to select a file name and location to store the imported image.
The conversion process will create an assembly file (.s), a c file (.c) and a header file (.h) using the name selected.
5
Include the C code and Header file in the MPLAB X Project
The conversion process creates an assembly file (.s), a C file (.c), and a header file (.h) for each imported image. These files need to be included in the MLA Graphics project just as all other source files and header files.
You will have to edit the appropriate files to add a #include for the newly created header file.
The image on the right shows the files for the image NewImage.bmp included in a project which were saved in files with the name of NewImage.*. The three files created are:
- NewImage.s
- NewImage.h
- NewImage_reference.c
All three of these files are added to the project tree automatically by the GRC.
6
Build the Project
Re-building the project after the new image's header and source files have been added makes the image available for use.