Main Toolbar
The main toolbar is the primary method of accessing and building MPLAB® X Projects
Click on an icon to jump to its description.
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New File
Keyboard:
Ctrl+N
Menu:
File ▶ New File…
Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
New Project
Keyboard:
Ctrl+Shift+N
Menu:
File ▶ New Project…
Creates a new project with the New Project wizard.
Save All
Keyboard:
Ctrl+Shift+S
Menu:
File ▶ Save All
Saves all open files.
Undo
Keyboard:
Ctrl+Z
Menu:
Edit ▶ Undo
Reverses (one at a time) a series of editor actions, except Save.
Redo
Keyboard:
Ctrl+Y
Menu:
Edit ▶ Redo
Reverses (one at a time) a series of Undo commands.
Set Project Configuration
Selects project configuration. Choose “default” or “Customize”.
By default, this will show default. However, if you create a new configuration, its name will show up here as well allowing you to rapidly switch between multiple configurations. For example, one configuration may use the ICD3 and another the simulator.
Build Project
Menu:
Run ▶ Build Project
Builds the project using the compiler/assembler selected in the Project Properties. The Build command in MPLAB X is roughly equivalent to the Make command in MPLAB 8. The make utility will build only the files in the project that have changed since the last build. Click on down arrow for other related options.
Clean and Build Project
Menu:
Run ▶ Clean and Build Project
Deletes files from previous builds and then builds the all project files. Click on down arrow for other related options.
Make and Program Target Project
Builds project in release mode then programs the PIC® Microcontroller. Click on down arrow for other related options.
Read Device Memory
Reads target device memory and loads into MPLAB X IDE. Click on down arrow for other related options.
Hold in Reset
Unlike the other toolbar buttons, this is a toggle switch. When it is pressed, it will assert the reset line to prevent the target from running. This button is most useful in conjunction with the Program Target button. After programming the target, Hold in Reset may be used to release the target board to run without having to disconnect the programmer.
Debug Project
Menu:
Debug ▶ Debug Project (Name)
Builds the project in debug mode (links in the debug executive), programs the target and runs the project on the target using the debugger selected in the project properties.
Program Counter
Shows the current value of the Program Counter when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active.
Status Bits
Shows the current value of the Status bits when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active
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Project Window
To Open the Projects window select Window -> Projects from the menu or select Ctrl +1
The Projects Window has three tabs: Projects, Files, and Classes. When the Projects Tab has been selected you will be able to:
Add files to the project
Remove files from the project
Edit a project file
Modify the Projects properties including the
* MCU being used
* Compiler(and version) being used
* Debug Tool
* Project Configuration.
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The Project Dashboard displays the current status of the project including checksum, memory usage, and debug information as well as other useful information.
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Double clicking on a file from the Projects tab of the Projects Window launches the MPLAB® X Editor which opens the source file in the editor window.
The user enters the modifications directly in the window.
MPLAB® X saves all modified files when the project is built. The user can also save any modified files directly by clicking the Save icon in the editor window toolbar.
For details on using the editor click here.
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When the user opens a window in order to observe the contents of the project, the window is opened as a tab in this window.
Examples of new windows opening in the output window include the Watches Window, Variables Window, and Debug Disassembly Window, among others.
During a project build the compiler displays the build status in the Output Window.