Release Notes for MPLAB® VDI Visual Device Initializer

MPLAB® IDE v8.15

Software DLL Version v3.0

September 22, 2008

Table of Contents

1      Device Support

2      Operating System Support

3      Reference Documents

4      What's New in v3.0

5      Repairs and Enhancements Made in v3.0

6      Known Problems

7      Tips and Tricks

1         Device Support

Click the link below to see device support for the visual initializer (VDI).

·         Device Support List

2         Operating System Support

This tool has been tested under the following operating systems:

Windows® 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2, and Window Vista™ OSs

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Beginning with MPLAB IDE v7.51, MPLAB IDE and MPLAB VDI will no longer be tested on Windows 98, Windows ME, or Windows NT.  MPLAB IDE and MPLAB VDI may continue to work under these operating systems, but their operation will no longer be verified through testing.

3         Reference Documents

The following documents may be found on our website or MPLAB IDE CD-ROM:

·         Device data sheets - various DS numbers

On-line help (Help>Topics) is also available for this tool:

·         Tools>Visual Device Initializer

The default location of the Help file and a tutorial is:

·         C:\Program Files\Microchip\MPLAB IDE\VDI\hlpMPLABVDI.chm

·         C:\Program Files\Microchip\MPLAB IDE \VDI\doc\VDI Tutorial.pdf

On-line Web Seminars are also available for this tool:

·         Introduction to the MPLAB Visual Device Initializer (VDI)

4         What's New in v3.0

N/A

5         Repairs and Enhancements Made in v3.0

N/A

6         Known Problems

The following is a list of known problems. Bolded prefix represents internal tracking numbers.

VDI-7: Wrong baud rate calculation for CAN/ECAN module.

VDI-401: The option 'Generate Read-Modify-Write instruction sequence for SFR initialization' has been disabled for all devices in MPLAB VDI.

VDI-600: Code generation options do not work as expected.

6.1        PIC18F Devices

VDI-50: [PIC18F6520/6620/6720/8520/8620/8720] For all five CCP PWM, CCP IC and CCP OC modules, VDI generates incorrect code for Time base selection.

VDI-186: [PIC18CXX2, PIC18FXX2] Code generated for initializing PORT A and E does not initialize ADCON1.

6.2        PIC24F Devices

VDI-121: When trying to configure POR/BOR, WDT using VDI, error message displayed.

VDI-135: In RTCC Configuration window, incorrect code gets generated for (B1) RTSECSEL of PADCFG1 register for selecting RTCC pin Output Selection.

VDI-136: In RTCC Configuration window, incorrect code gets generated for (B13:10) AMASK3:0 of ALCFGRPT for selecting Repeat Alarm.

VDI-138: For ICx, In correct code gets generated for ICxCON register.Similar error occurs for OC(OCxCON).

VDI-142: For any setting of I2Cx (I2C1 or I2C2), gives error message "Can't find bitfield `i1_I2CBRG'" being claimed in control baudRate

VDI-192: The calculated Fcy shown in oscillator configuration window and also the code generated for clock source as 'Internal FRC with postscalar' are incorrect.

VDI-194: [ PIC24FJ128GA FAMILY ] Calculated percentage error for UART baud rate shows wrong value on apply and code generated does not set BRGH bit even if high baud rate is selected.

VDI-199: [PIC24FJ64GA004 FAMILY] In SPI configuration window there is no option to select the eight buffer interrupt modes for SPIx (enhanced buffer mode).

VDI-501: [PIC24FJ64GA004 Family] Selecting various debugging pin pairs in System parameter window will not generate appropriate code (configuration bits).

VDI-502: [PIC24FJ64GA004 Family] Oscillator - Code generated for switching and monitor mode is not proper.

VDI-520: [PIC24FJ16GA004] Oscillator module claims OSCI and OSCO pins even when Internal FRC, Internal LPRC, and Secondary Oscillator modes are selected.

VDI-521: [PIC24FJ16GA004] The Comparator modules 1 & 2 always claim the pins CxIN+, CxIN- and CVREF, irrespective of the Inputs selected in the configuration window.

VDI-522: [PIC24FJ16GA004] Enabling the Interrupt in many peripherals gives 'Can't find bitfield....' error messages in the Output window.

VDI-537: [PIC24FJ] - On configuring oscillator module, "can't find pin......" error messages are seen in the output window.

VDI-538: [PIC24FJxxxGBxxx, PIC24FJxxxGAxxx] - Generated code doesn't compile due to syntax errors.

VDI-546: [PIC24FJ64GA004 family] - I2C1 module claims both the primary and alternate pairs of pins at the same time.

VDI-561: [PIC24FJxxxGAxxx, PIC24FJxxxGBxxx PPS devices] - Code not generated for PPS initialization.

VDI-616: Configuring any UART or PPS function of PIC24FxxxGA106 PPS devices will generate many ‘can't find bit field’ errors.

6.3        dsPIC30F Devices

VDI-160: [dsPIC30F3011/3013/6010/6010A/6015] For any setting of UART2, gives error message "Can't find bitfield `i1_U2BRG'"

VDI-161: [dsPIC30F3013] For any setting of UART2, gives error message "Can't find bitfield `i1_U2BRG'". Also, IPC6 register is not available in code generation.

VDI-525: [dsPIC30F devices] - Some dsPIC30F devices show two UART1 modules in the left hand feature/resource pane.

VDI-551: [dsPIC30F] - In the Interrupts and Traps configuration window, selecting 'Alternate' Interrupt vector table and enabling interrupts generates an error.

6.4        dsPIC33F Devices

VDI-405: [ dsPIC33 100pin ] Configuring an IO port pin as input on an already claimed pin will not generate pin assignment conflict. This issue will not affect code generation.

VDI-441: [dsPIC33 100 pin] Configuring ADC1 and ADC2 simultaneously will generate pin conflict errors for analog pins that are used by both ADCs. This issue will not affect code generation.

VDI-477: [dsPIC33 100 pin] In UART configuration window, if the loopback mode is enabled then UxTX is not claimed.

VDI-541: [dsPIC33F MC devices] MPLAB VDI should make sure that pins multiplexed with ADC input channels are made digital if they are not used by the ADC.

VDI-542: [dsPIC33F 60-pin devices] Compiling MPLAB VDI code gives 'undefined reference to....' error.

VDI-547: [dsPIC33 MC Devices] On configuring DMA, MPLAB VDI generates many "Can't find bitfield......" errors.

VDI-553: [dsPIC33 MC devices] In the QEI configuration window, the Digital Filter configuration settings/options are grayed out.

VDI-574: [dsPIC33FxxxGPx06] MPLAB VDI doesn't generate any code for initializing ECAN (CAN) peripheral.

VDI-577: [dsPIC33 MC devices] MPLAB VDI fails to generate code for ECAN buffer pointer registers CiBUFPNT1, CiBUFPNT2, CiBUFPNT3 and CiBUFPNT4.

VDI-581: [dsPIC33 MC devices] In PWM configuration window, there is no provision to enable Fault A and Fault B Interrupts and to set their priorities.

VDI-593: [dsPIC33 MC devices] MPLAB VDI code always clears I2CxBRG registers; "Can't find bitfield `i1_I2CBRG'..." errors generated when I2Cx modules are configured.

6.5        PIC32MX Devices

The code generation option ‘Generate Read-Modify-Write instruction sequence for SFR initialization’ is currently not supported.

VDI-375: In the SPI configuration window, if OK is clicked without entering a proper baud rate value then an error window pops up to indicate the same and all the SPI settings made will be lost after the error window is closed.

VDI-377: Comments giving SFR bit field information for many Interrupt related registers and other registers should be updated to reflect the changes made in rev B of the devices.

7         Tips and Tricks

·         Basic use: Click-and-drag a feature from the palette on the left onto the chip in the middle. Once on the chip, click the feature to configure it.

·         Right-click is your best friend in VDI. Right-click the chip graphic to set/view system parameters, like ICD/ICSP.

·         “Apply” is also your friend. You can “Apply” incrementally to make sure your configuration won't cause trouble.

·         Zoom is neat. Try it after you've configured a port or communications peripheral (or something).

·         If there is a conflict between features/peripherals, they turn red and any conflicting pins turn red. Float your cursor over a pin and it will tell you its conflict/assignment. Left-click the peripheral icon and it will tell you, too. (The default left-click-action changes for peripheral icons if they are in conflict.)

·         If the compiler or assembler is having trouble finding Visual Initializer files when you build your project, try specifying the paths to these files in the MPLAB IDE Build Options dialog, i.e., Project>Build Options>Project, Directories tab.