PIC data sheets - not comprehensive for beginners

[flotulopex]

Hello,

I'm quite new to PIC programming. Up to now, I was BASIC STAMPing. For me, it was a good start, for sure. Today, just because of the price difference, I choose to go for PICs.

First I had to find wich PIC I would use. I then read lots of webpages and found tutorials using the 16F84 or 16F84/A. A few weeks later, I found out that this PIC was more expensive and had less functionalities than the 16F88. So I changed my mind and went for this one.

I built the MicroChip AN589 programmer (just to make sure it would work!), I started to program. And here I am now.

After having read lots of posts in this forum, I noticed that lots (if not all) of problems can be solved by reading your PIC's data sheet.

This makes me think that data sheets may not be comprehensive for beginners since other far more clever people experience same issues.

Is there any method to read data sheets? Do other documentations (kind of application notes) exist?

My mother tongue is french, can I find the data sheets in my language somewhere?

[mugwamp]

pex, Microchip data sheets are in a special language called technologeze, a tongue that bears some passing resemblance to English. They're over 300 pages so the problem is not that the data isn't included or that everything isn't covered in enough detail. The problem is finding the data you need in page after page of difficult-to-understand information. But it's a rite of passage. You've got to just fight your way through it until the little light bulb goes off in your head. The combination of the data sheets and this forum should be all you need. So just jump right in.

[mister_e]

Bienvenue dans la jungle ;)
So i guess you could find something interesting in the Bignonoff lessons?

Sure it's in assembler and partly outdated but something interesting to start i guess.
http://www.abcelectronique.com/bigonoff/organisation.php?par=5b3d2

[flotulopex]

Thanx.

I don't feel better but, at least, I know I'm on the right track!

I will certainly need to raise a few more threads until I "master" my PICs.

I go back to my data sheets....

[grounded]

been there done that. thats the test when you can read and understand the data sheets your no longer a beginner. but still along way from a expert.
the good people here will help IF you make past the data sheets 1st.

[SteveB]

the good people here will help IF you make past the data sheets 1st.

Not entirely true. Mostly, if you have looked for it, and just can't find what your looking for, or don't understand it, you will get an answer. What folks on the forum tend to frown on is when someone reply's, "Datasheet? Whats That?" Or, when someone starts a thread with, "I want to do XYZ, can someone please write my code for me" (not quite this direct, but the meaning is the same).

Put in a little effort Flotul, and you will see a lot of willing help on this forum. The search function isn't so hot, but poke around a little before asking a question.


My mother tongue is french
Your posts have been clear and understandadle, so I am sure you will do well, even if it takes a little more effort. For us monolinguists, it is impressive :D.

Best of luck, and welcome!
Steve

[mister_e]

Flotulopex, me and the few other french here are with you!

Just have fun... period. They won't bite you. Worst things : compilation error, nothing work, smoke messages.

Fortunately we have this forum.