pbp 3 and MPLAB X

[Marcick]

Anybody has success in setup MPLAB-X, ICD3 and Picbasic3 ?
Actually I'm able to write a simple program, build but then an error

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 2s)
Loading C:/Users/Marco/Desktop/Nuova cartella/prova.X/dist/default/production/prova.X.production.cof...
Loading C:/Users/Marco/Desktop/Nuova cartella/prova.X/dist/default/production/prova.X.production....
The program file could not be loaded: java.lang.NullPointerException

ICD3 works fine with MPLAB 8
Marco

[Ioannis]

My theory is keep it simple. So I use what Melabs gives with PBP3, the MCSX. When I was using ICD3 as a programmer, I just loaded the hex file in MPLAB8.xx and programed the chip.

Now I find Pickit2 or 3 much more easy to use, specially with the stand alone program.

Out of curiosity, I wonder what MPLABX can offer more as na IDE. Please elaborate on this if you have the time.

Ioannis

[Marcick]

well, because I have these three products, I just want to know if they must work or if actually there are a lot of compatibility problems.

PBP3 says it works with MPLABX
MPLABX says it works with ICD3

These three parts works togheter or not ?
Marco

[HenrikOlsson]

Marcick,
I'm afraid I can't help much. I tried to get PBP3 integrated in MPLABX but couldn't even manage to get that working. But anyway, have you seen this page? There's a topic about installing the ICD3. Unfortunately the page doesn't exist but perhaps you can find some other pointers as to where the problem might be.

Ioannis,

Out of curiosity, I wonder what MPLABX can offer more as na IDE.

Well, compared to MCSX, here are three things that I personally would like to have (and that MPLABX offers).

* Source level debugging
* Code folding
* Version control

But, as I said, I couldn't even manage to integrate PBP into the thing so until someone more intelligent than me writes a step by step guide I'll stick with MCSX.

/Henrik.

[Ioannis]

Source level debuging would be nice, but is it valid for a higher level lanquage like PBP or is it possible only for ASM or C?

If this works for PBP, I want it and may do the experiments

Ioannis

[HenrikOlsson]

Hi,
PBP source level debugging works with MPLAB 8 so it should work with MPLABX as well.

/Henrik.

[ScaleRobotics]

Marcick, that's a pretty long folder path. It could be complaining about that. I think I had some problems when my folders were that long, so I made them shorter.

I followed the instructions here: http://support.melabs.com/threads/91-Mplab-X
But I did have a heck of a time. I tried it on two separate computers, and it seemed to me that on both of them I needed to install the PBP2.60 plugin first (don't ask me why that helped) first, to get PBP3 to work.

Here are some pictures of the settings I currently have, and a screen shot of code stepping PBP3 in MPLABX.

[Marcick]

Thanks to everybody,
now that I see it must work, I'll stuck my head til it worsk for me too ...
After try and try now I have a different error:

ERROR: Unable to find proper .org_n section in file C:\Pbpx\prova.X\pippo.O
Error processing COFF file C:\Pbpx\prova.X\pippo.O
make[2]: *** [build/default/production/pippo\.cof] Error 1
make[1]: *** [.build-conf] Error 2
make: *** [.build-impl] Error 2
make[2]: Leaving directory `C:/Pbpx/prova.X'
make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/Pbpx/prova.X'



How to install the PBP2.60 plugin also now that I have 3 ?

[Marcick]

Sorry, I correct my previous post:
I can build with success a simple program, but then the error is the same:

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 2s)
Loading C:/Pbpx/prova.X/dist/default/production/prova.X.production.cof...
Loading C:/Pbpx/prova.X/dist/default/production/prova.X.production....
The program file could not be loaded: java.lang.NullPointerException

[Demon]

Could it be a problem with long file destination again?

Robert

[ScaleRobotics]

All is not exactly rosy over here either.

I do get a file not found error, after I successfully compile. Which I notice is slightly different than you. Are you using the new MPLAB X 1.0 (first non beta)?

I can run through with the simulator, I can create hex files that I tested to make sure they really worked. But in my testing of MPLAB X, I can't seem to program the devices directly from MPLAB X when using PBP3. For C, the programmers all work, ICD3, Pickit3. I notice in MPLAB X PBP3, the .cof file is put in \dist\default\production file of the project, but the hex is left in the base file of the project. This is not how it works in MPLAB X C. The hex file and the cof file would be found in the \dist\default\production file for C. So I am wondering if the error I am getting is the rest of MPLAB not finding the hex where it thought it would be. This leads me to wonder if the plugin is set right? This doesn't look like any settings I can select, as far as I can tell. I will ask Charles Leo on the MeLabs site, and pass the answer here when he responds.

Here is a my compiling message:

CLEAN SUCCESSFUL (total time: 101ms)
make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk SUBPROJECTS= .build-conf
make[1]: Entering directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.cof
make[2]: Entering directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
gnumkdir -p build/default/production
"C:\PBP3\PBPX.EXE" -ampasmx -k# -os -p12f683 alt-683.pbp
PICBASIC PRO(TM) Compiler 3.0.4.4, (c) 1998, 2011 microEngineering Labs, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
gnumkdir -p dist/default/production
cp alt-683.COF dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.cof
rm -f alt-683.COF
make[2]: Leaving directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 3s)
Loading C:/local/new/altimeter.X/dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.cof...
The program file could not be loaded: File not found.

[Marcick]

Thank you guys,
Yes, I'm using MPLAB X 1.10, the version actually available for download.
I don't think it's a problem of long paths. I've choosen c:\pbpx for my development and the other subpath are choosen from MPLAB. I can't do anything else to make the path shorter ...
Hope Charles will solve everything ...
Marco

[ScaleRobotics]

Ok, I uninstalled MPLAB X 1.00 (required for "upgrade") and installed MPLAB X v1.10, I was asked during install if I wanted to use the old settings, I selected yes.

Now I get no errors after build, and my .hex file ends up in the correct spot. Seems to me, this is something corrected in MPLAB X v1.10

Now I am able to get the Pickit3 to program my project from MPLAB X v1.10. Yay!

I am now wondering if your errors could be a Java problem, with incorrect version. What do you get when you click on help, and info?

Here is mine:



Results:

CLEAN SUCCESSFUL (total time: 101ms)
make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk SUBPROJECTS= .build-conf
make[1]: Entering directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.hex
make[2]: Entering directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
gnumkdir -p build/default/production
"C:\PBP3\PBPX.EXE" -ampasmx -k# -p12f683 alt-683.pbp
PICBASIC PRO(TM) Compiler 3.0.4.4, (c) 1998, 2011 microEngineering Labs, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
gnumkdir -p dist/default/production
cp alt-683.HEX dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.hex
cp alt-683.COF dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.cof
rm -f alt-683.COF
make[2]: Leaving directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'
make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/local/new/altimeter.X'

BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 4s)
Loading C:/local/new/altimeter.X/dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.hex...
Loading C:/local/new/altimeter.X/dist/default/production/altimeter.X.production.cof...
Loading completed

[Marcick]

wow, happy for you ...
My java version results 1.6.0_31 that seems newer than yours.

[Charles_Leo]

After updating all of my software, I have the same problem as Marcick. I've been in touch with Microchip and I'm told that the hex file handling needs to be updated in our plugin. I hope to have a new plugin packaged with MPLABX 1.20.

I'm still a bit confused as to why some installations work and some don't.

[ScaleRobotics]

Very interesting. Thanks Charles for looking in to it, and trying to update the plugin for the next MPLAB X release!

It worked on both Windows 7 professional 32 bit, and Windows 7 professional 64 bit here.

On the 32 bit, my info seems to be the same as Marcick's execpt for I have

Java 1.6.0_26, and he has 1.6.0_31
java hotspot 20.1-b02 , and he has 20.6-b01:



I may try updating my Java and see if it breaks my setup, or try a fresh install on a different computer. Will let you know what I find.

[Marcick]

no news ?
marco

[Acetronics2]

Hi,

using Win SP3 Home / I7 2600K ... and a Pickit2.
of course everything ( java, pbp, etc ... ) up to date ...

make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk SUBPROJECTS= .build-conf
make[1]: Entering directory `C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X'
make -f nbproject/Makefile-default.mk dist/default/production/Servotest.X.production.cof
make[2]: Entering directory `C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X'
gnumkdir -p build/default/production
"C:\PBP3\PBPX.EXE" -ampasmx -k# -os -p16f887 Servotes.pbp
PICBASIC PRO(TM) Compiler 3.0.5.4, (c) 1998, 2012 microEngineering Labs, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
gnumkdir -p dist/default/production
cp Servotes.COF dist/default/production/Servotest.X.production.cof
rm -f Servotes.COF
make[2]: Leaving directory `C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X'
make[1]: Leaving directory `C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X'
BUILD SUCCESSFUL (total time: 3s)
Loading C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X/dist/default/production/Servotest.X.production.cof...
Loading C:/Program Files/Microchip/MPLAB IDE/Projets/X/Servotest.X/dist/default/production/Servotest.X.production....
The program file could not be loaded: java.lang.NullPointerException

may I add my graphics card ( an ATI Radeon 6870 ...) doesn't like MPLABX at all and frequently crashes ...
but everything is fine With MPLAB 8.84 ...

Alain

[Charles_Leo]

I just kicked back a beta version for a minor fix. I hope to release an updated plugin tomorrow.

[CipOne]

Up

same problem:
"The program file could not be loaded: java.lang.NullPointerException"

[Tcrook]

Just wondering if there are any updates on this. Been using PBP 2.50 and MPLAB v8.15 for many years.

After 30 hours of trying, I have yet to get to first base trying to get MPLABX v3.45 and PBP (2.50 or 3.08) to play together. Can open the PBP source file and edit but MPLABX says the project file is empty when building. Navigator view shows the file as being there.
Using Windows 10 if it matters.

Going back to an old desktop PC with MPLAB 8.15 and PBP 2.50 to get some work done.

[Demon]

Win10, tried executing as administrator?

[Tcrook]

Yep, tried being Administrator, still no joy. I did go back to IDE v8.92 and things started working. Think I've officially given up on MPLABX. Nothing should be that hard. Or maybe I'm getting too old to learn new shit.

[HenrikOlsson]

You're not alone, that's all I've got to say unfortunately.

MCSP is simple to use but lacks advanced features (source level debugging mainly), isn't aware of some features in added in PBP3 and is prone to crashing on several systems (mine including) which SUCKS.

MPLAB 8 is outdated and lacks support for the latest devices and MPLABX is too bloody hard to set up and apparently Microchip keeps changing things and Melabs can't keep up. It's quite a mess IMHO.

[retepsnikrep]

I agree with Henrik.. I just use what was given.. MCSP: crashes on my systems as well, especially when copying and pasting stuff..