Creating a new XC16 project in MPLAB X

These are the steps I use to create a new MPLAB X project for a C program compiled with Microchip’s XC16 compiler:

1. From the File menu, select “New Project…”. The new project dialog box will appear.
2. Choose Project: Select “Microchip Embedded” and “Standalone Project”, then click “Next”.
3. Select Device: Set Family to “16-bit DSCs (dsPIC30)” and Device to “dsPIC30F4011”, then click “Next”.
4. Select Tool: Click “PICkit 2”, then click “Next”.
5. Select Compiler: Select “XC16 (v1.00) [D:\Program Files\Microchip\xc16\v1.00\bin]” (the folder location will probably be different on your PC), then click “Next”.
6. Select Project Name and Folder: Set Project Location to whatever you want. I make a new folder for each program inside a folder called “progs” which is on my desktop. The Project Folder should be automatically set to the same location you specified for the Project Location. Set the Project Name to whatever you like, but it’s probably bext to choose something short and simple without spaces (e.g. “LEDflash”). Then click “Finish”.

Now that the project has been created, a source code file needs to be added to it. You can do this by right clicking on the source code folder icon in the project view. Click “Add new file”.

Here’s the above process in a series of screenshots:

Please note that I didn’t forget step 3 (“Select Header”) – the new project wizard seems to skip that step when you create this type of project.

Select Device:

 

Select Tool:

Select Compiler:

Select Project Name and Folder:

Create a new empty file:

Call the new file “main.c” and store it in the project folder:

Here’s a really simple example program which you can paste into your new file:

//
// dsPIC30F4011 LED flash
// Written by Ted Burke
// Last updated 27-8-2012
//

#include <xc.h>
#include <libpic30.h>

// Configuration settings
_FOSC(CSW_FSCM_OFF & FRC_PLL16); // Fosc=16x7.5MHz, Fcy=30MHz
_FWDT(WDT_OFF);                  // Watchdog timer off
_FBORPOR(MCLR_DIS);              // Disable reset pin

int main()
{
	TRISD = 0; // Set all port D pins as outputs

	// Loop to flash an LED on RD0 (pin 23)
	while(1)
	{
		_LATD0 = 1;          // Set RD0 high
		__delay32(15000000); // 500ms delay
		_LATD0 = 0;          // Set RD0 low
		__delay32(15000000); // 500ms delay
	}

	return 0;
}

Save the file, then compile the program by clicking on the “Build Project” button (circled in red below).

Hopefully, the program will compile without errors. If so, you will see a message saying “BUILD SUCCESSFUL”, as shown below:

Rather than using MPLAB X to transfer the compiled program onto the dsPIC, I use the PICkit2 helper application. You can do it with MPLAB X, but I find that it crashes all the time, which is very frustrating. The PICkit2 application is much more reliable. In the PICkit2 program, click the “Auto Import Hex + Write Device” button, circled in red below. You need to tell it the location of the compiled hex file, which will be buried in a subfolder somewhere inside your project folder. This is the location of my hex file:

...\LEDflash\LEDflash.X\dist\default\production\LEDflash.X.production.hex

Once you find and select the hex file, it should be automatically transferred onto the chip. If the transfer is successful, you’ll see the message circled in blue below.

Hopefully at this point, the program should be running. If you have an LED attached to RD0 (pin 23), you should now see it flashing.