Create a new "Stand-Alone" project in MPLAB X for a PIC16F1508. Instructions are included below if this is your first project.

Create A New "Stand-Alone" Project Instructions ►

Create A New "Stand-Alone" Project Instructions ▼

 Step-by-Step

1

Launch the new project wizard

Launch the New Project Wizard using one of the following methods:

• From the Toolbar: Click on the New Project icon , or
• From the Menu: Select File ► New Project, or
• From the Keyboard: Ctrl + Shift + N

The project wizard will walk you through the process and prompt you for all the required information. Your selections may be changed after the project has been created by modifying the project's properties.

2

Choose Project

a

Choose Microchip Embedded from the Categories column (center).

b

Choose Standalone Project from the Projects column (right).

c

Click the Next > button.

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3

Select Device

a

Choose the device family from the Family drop-down box.

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If you have used MPLAB X IDE previously, choosing Recently Used from the Family drop-down box will filter the Device list to the 3 devices you have used most recently.

b

Choose your device's part number from the Device drop down box. You may also type in the part number directly, and the list will adjust to the characters you enter.

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4

Select Header

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The wizard will automatically skip this step if a header is not available for your selected device.

If you are using a debug header with your debugger, select it from the Supported Debug Header drop-down box. They are listed by the header's part number.
If you are not using a debug header (i.e. the debugger is directly connected to the target device), select None.

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5

Select Tool

If you are using a hardware debugger / programmer, you should see a serial number under its heading if it is connected to your system. Click on the serial number to associate that specific tool with your project. It is important to select the serial number itself because MPLAB X IDE permits multiple projects to be open simultaneously, and each one may use a different debug tool. For example, if you have three ICD3's connected to your PC, you could have three projects open and each one assigned to a different ICD3. This makes it possible to simultaneously debug multiple applications in the same instance of MPLAB X IDE.

For software based tools, such as the simulator, you only need to click on the tool's name to select it.

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Hover your mouse pointer over the colored dots to see their meaning for a specific tool. Red = No Support, Yellow = Beta Support, Green = Production Tested.

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6

Select Plug-in Board

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The wizard will automatically skip this step if a plug-in board is not available for your selected device.

If you are using a plug-in board to enhance the features of your debugger (usually the Real ICE), select it from the Selected Plugin Board drop-down box. They are listed by function.
If you are not using a plug-in board (i.e. standard debugger configuration), select None.

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7

Select Compiler

The IDE will display all compilers available on your system that support your selected device. Select the compiler (including version number) you wish to use for building the project.

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8

Select Project Name and Folder

a

Choose a Project Name. This will be your project's name as well as the name of the project directory (with a ".X" appended) that the IDE will create.

b

Choose a Project Location. This is where the IDE will create the project directory.

If a directory with the specified name already exists and has no MPLAB X IDE project files in it, the IDE will use the existing directory for the new project. If the directory does have MPLAB X IDE files in it from another project, the wizard will give an error that must be fixed by choosing a different project name or location. If the directory does not exist, the IDE will create it and use it for the new project.

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Open the MPLAB Code Configurator under the Tools -> Embedded menu of MPLAB X IDE.

Show MCC Layout ►

Show MCC Layout ▼

The sections of the MCC tool are shown in the image below. We will refer to these sections by name throughout this article. This highlight can be enabled over the MCC at any time by clicking on the information icon .

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Select the Peripherals for your project.
In this project you need to select these peripherals:

• System Module
• Interrupt Module
• Pin Module
• CMP1
• FVR

The System Module, Interrupt Module and the Pin Module will all be automatically included when you launch the MCC. CMP1 and FVR needs to be added from the Device Resources area. Just click on the Timer category and then double click on the Timer 1 to add it to the project. The result should look like the picture below:

The CMP1 needs to be setup. Click on the CMP1 label in the Project Resources menu to make the CMP1 setup screen appear.

The Comparator will require two inputs selected for operation. The steps below will setup the CMP1.

1. Check the Enable Comparator box.
2. Select the FVR_pin as the Positive input from the drop down menu.
3. Set the CIN3- as the Negative input from the drop down menu.
4. Select the Non-Inverted output.
5. Leave the Enable Comparator Interrupt box unchecked.

The window should look like below after the setup:

The FVR needs to be setup. Click on the FVR label in the Project Resources menu to make the FVR setup screen appear.

The Fixed Voltage Reference base voltage is 1.024 V. This project needs the comparator threshold to be at 2.048 V so the FVR must be set to two times the base voltage. This is done in the MCC setup screen.

1. Check the Enable FVR box.
2. Select 2x as the FVR amount sent to Comparators, DAC and CPS from the drop down menu.
3. Set off as the FVR amount sent to ADC from the drop down menu.

The window should look like below after the setup:

Open the Pin Manager and then click on the PORTA pin 2 (RA2) Output blue lock symbol. It should turn green. This adds this RA2 I/O pin to the project. Also make sure the Reset pin has the blue lock shown. If it's green then click on the green lock to make it blue. This will make the Reset internal. Finally click on the RC3 pin for the C1INx- pin. It should look like the picture here when completed:

Close the Pin Manager and then click on the Pin Module selection in the Project Resources section.

The center screen should show RA2 listed on the I/O chart. Click on the output box to make the pin an output (if not checked) and make sure Analog and WPU are not checked (click on them to uncheck them).

The System needs to be setup next. Click on the System name in the Project Resources list.

The System section will appear. In this section the oscillator settings and the configuration settings are selected.

Oscillator

1. Select the INTOSC from the drop down menu for the System Clock Select.
2. Select the 1MHz_HF selection from the Internal Clock drop down menu.

This will enable the internal 1 MHz internal oscillator as the system clock.

Configuration

Each configuration setting can be changed under the Register tab of the System window. Match the selections shown here.

Click on the Generate Code button to have the MCC create the software libraries for this project.

The project will now have both generated Header Files and Source Files. It should also have a generated main.c file.
Note: MCC may offer to generate a main.c file. Click yes to allow it to complete that task.

Double click on main.c to open it up in the editor window.

main.c

The main loop requires a small section of code added to control the LED. Within main.c is a while(1) loop with the comment // Add your application code. An IF statement is added to test the state of the CMP1_GetOutputStatus() function. That function is defined in the cmp1.h and cmp1.c files generated by the MCC. If it returns a one, then the IO_RA2_SetLow() function is implemented. If it is clear then the IO_RA2_SetHigh() function is implemented. These functions are actually macros created by the MCC and placed in the pin_manager.h file. Based on the output of the comparator, this main.c code will either light the LED or turn it off.

while (1)
    {
        // Add your application code
      if(CMP1_GetOutputStatus())
         {
            IO_RA2_SetHigh();
         }
         else
         {
            IO_RA2_SetLow();
         }
     }

Click on the Build Project Icon (the Hammer) to compile the code and you should see a BUILD SUCCESSFUL message in the output window of MPLAB® X.

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 5s)

Make sure your project has the programming tool selected (Part of Step 1 above) and connect power to your development board.

Click on the Make and Program Device icon. This will build the project again and launch the programmer. In the output window you should see a series of messages and, if successful, it will end with a Programming and Verify Successful message.

Output Window:

Connecting to MPLAB PICkit 3...

Currently loaded firmware on PICkit 3
Firmware Suite Version.....01.41.06
Firmware type..............Enhanced Midrange

Target voltage detected
Target device PIC16F1508 found.
Device ID Revision = 2

The following memory area(s) will be programmed:
program memory: start address = 0x0, end address = 0x5f
configuration memory

Device Erased...

Programming...
Programming/Verify complete

The project can be closed in MPLAB X. The project is saved automatically when it is built but any changes to files or configuration may ask to be saved before the project is closed. The project can be closed under the File Menu>Close Project