PBP 3.0 really needed?

[ScaleRobotics]

PBP3 is really nice. It's basically two upgrades past your version 2.50. Looks like they charge $75 for the jump from PBP2.5 to PBP3.0 gold.

Personally, I like using some of the newer chips, like the x7j53, 14K50, enhanced mid range, and some of the other "K" chips. So, it was needed for me If those are of interest to you, you will need the upgrade. The jump from pbp 2.5 (in my opinion) to 2.6 was worth way more than $25! And the jump from 2.6 to pbp3.0 was totaly worth the $50, so I wouldn't have to jump back and forth commenting out the configs in all the include files (and previously having to do it all over again with each upgrade!)

Here are the changes from:

PBP3 - 3.0.0.x (Aug 2011)



New Functionality:

• Conditional-compilation with #IF, #IFDEF, and #IFNDEF. Control all PBP code with conditional statements, including DEFINE, Variable and Alias declarations, and Configuration Directives.
• Conditional constants can be defined in source code or passed to PBP via command-line options.
• #CONFIG block allows configuration directives in source code without modifying system files. Multiple configuration blocks can be selected with conditional compile.
• Custom compiler message, warning, and error generation.
• Mechanism to create custom PBP commands. (Undocumented at the time of this writing. More information to come.)

Installation and Compatibility:

• License protection through online/offline activation.
• MPLABX/MPASMX Compatibility with PBP-aware syntax highlighting.
• Automatic MPLAB 8.x setup and configuration.
• Assembler selection from Start Menu allows specific assembler-version selection, regardless of PATH variable entries. Selection setting accessible as an environment variable.
• PATH environment modification no longer required for assembly process.
• 63-character limit on path\filename removed.
• Complete compatibility with 64-bit Windows.

Structural Changes:

• Various include files consolidated into one support file per device.
• SFR names declared for each individual device.
• Device-specific command library capability.
• Single executable (PBPX.exe) for both PBPW and PBPL compilation.
• PM Assembler no longer supported.

Usability and Accessibility:

• Newly revised and expanded, 300+ page reference manual.
• Configuration information provided for each supported device.
• Multiple editions with different device-support subsets available.
• Free major upgrades for one year with every upgrade or full-version purchase.
• Minor updates and new-device support distributed frequently through free downloads for all current-version licensed users.
• All PBP3 editions and upgrades may be purchased as downloads.

Bug fixes and tweaks:

• Limit on LOOKUP2 item list increased to 1024 for Mid-Range and Enhanced Mid-Range architectures.
• HPWM changed to accommodate 1:64 prescaler in Enhanced Mid-Range Architecture. (lower minimum frequency limit)
• Fixed HPWM compile error for 18FxxK80.
• Fixed HPWM compile error for Enhanced Mid-Range parts in which CCPTMRS0 doesn't exist.
• Fixed HPWM channel-5 bug for Enhanced Mid-Range parts.
• Fixed ERASECODE/WRITECODE/READCODE for 12F617 and similar parts.

Support added for:

• Silver and Gold Editions: 12F752, ,12HV752
• Gold Edition: 12(L)F1840, 16(L)F1507, 16(L)F1516, 16(L)F1517, 16(L)F1518, 16(L)F1519, 16(L)F1526, 16(L)F1527, 16(L)F1782, 16(L)F1783, 16(L)F1847, 16LF1902, 16LF1903, 16LF1904, 16LF1906, 16LF1907

PBP 2.60c

• Fixed ADCIN for parts with 5-bit channel select
• Fixed HPWM for parts with CCPTMRSx SFRs
• Added support for PIC18F66K80 family
• Fixed "Argument out of range" for COUNT in 16F1xxx parts
• Fixed errors in PBPL for I2C commands forward-looking labels
• Fixed ADCIN GO_DONE error for new PIC18F parts
• Fixed LCDOUT for 8-bit mode with 64MHz system clock
• Adds support for: PIC16F1824, 16F1825, 16F1828, 16F1829, 16F707, 16F720, 16F721, 18F26J13, 18F26J53, 18F27J13, 18F27J53, 18F46J13, 18F46J53, 18F47J13, 18F47J53, 18F65K22, 18F65K90, 18F66K22, 18F66K90, 18F67K22, 18F67K90, 18F85K22, 18F85K90, 18F86J72, 18F86K22, 18F86K90, 18F87J72, 18F87K22, 18F87K90, 18F25K80, 18F26K80, 18F45K80, 18F46K80, 18F65K80, 18F66K80, 18LF25K80, 18LF40K80, 18LF45K80 18LF26K80, 18LF45K80, 18LF46K80, 18LF65K80, 18LF66K80
• Support added for second USART on PIC16F1xxx family.
• HPWM frequency calculation fixed for PIC16F1xxx family.

PBP 2.60

• • Adds support for: PIC12F1822, 12LF1822, 16F1823, 16LF1823, 12F617, 16F722A, 16F723A, 16LF722A, 16LF723A, 18F23K22, 18F24K22, 18F25K22, 18F26K22, 18F43K22, 18F44K22, 18F45K22, 18F46K22, 18LF23K22, 18LF24K22, 18LF25K22, 18LF26K22, 18LF43K22, 18LF44K22, 18LF45K22, 18LF46K22
  • Fixes WRITE for WORD variables
  • Fixes assembly errors for 16F1826/16F1827
  • Fixes baud rate accuracy for SERIN/SEROUT commands
  • Fixes ADCIN for 18F46J11 family
  • Fixes WRITECODE for 18F4520 family
  • Workaround added for enhanced 14-bit devices and MPASM 5.36
  • Fixes PBPMPLAB.BAT for 64-bit systems
• Adds support for Enhanced Mid-range Core PIC16F1826, 1827, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1947, PIC16LF1826, 1827, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946 and 1947.
• Adds support for PIC18F13K22, 13K50, 14K22, 14K50, 24J11, 24J50, 25J11, 25J50, 26J11, 26J50, 44J11, 44J50, 45J11, 45J50, 46J11, 46J50, 66J90, 66J93, 67J90, 67J93, 86J90, 86J93, 87J90, 87J93, PIC18LF13K22, 13K50, 14K22, 14K50, 24J10, 24J11, 24J50, 25J10, 25J11, 25J50, 26J11, 26J50, 44J10, 44J11, 44J50, 45J10, 45J11, 45J50, 46J11 and 46J50.
• Adds new functions ATN (arctangent) and HYP (hypotenuse).
• Adds new commands ARRAYREAD, ARRAYWRITE (for enhanced string handling), DO..LOOP, ELSEIF, EXIT, ON GOSUB and ON GOTO.
• Adds Word and Long modifiers and allows multiple data for READ and WRITE.
• Adds NO_CLEAR_STKPTR Define for more control of stack for RESUME to label.
• Adds RESET_ORG Define for 14-bit core.
• Adds WRITE_INT Define to disable/enable interrupts for WRITECODE.
• Adds COFF debug file support for MPLAB 8.20 and beyond.
• Changes plugin for MPLAB 8.20 and beyond.
• Changes to new USB framework for support of new USB parts.
• Fixes DATA statement for up to 256 values on one line.
• Fixes OWIN and OWOUT presence detect for PIC18.
• Lengthens default command and data times for LCDOUT.
• Adjusts timing for SOUND command for 12-bit core.

[Mugelpower]

If I had only to pay $ 75 or so I would do that. Wasn´t there a thread that told "no more Upgrades from 2.50 possible" ?? And $280 is really a lot if Upgrades are impossible.
And Darrel Taylor had his great DT_INTS-18.bas is that needed in PBP 3.0 or only for the older versions?

regards
Mugel

[toneman]

Thanks for the explanation of the versions of PicBasic Pro. I'm interested in the newer 12F1850 8pin chips and thought my version (2.6, I think) would not program them. Still checking........

[mackrackit]

12F1850 is so new it is not listed on Micrchip's web site....
Bit the 12F1840 is and PBP3 supports it.
http://pbp3.com/devicelist.html

[Charlie]

And if you really do mean 12F1840, look here: http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=15001

[fowardbias]

Why does the PBP3 device list for the upper end 18F's not include any of the chips that use the V-bat features? The pin count is 64/80/100 for these chips and Melabs is already selling a ZIF adaptor for them. Doesn't jive right to me? 2.6C and happy!

[Darrel Taylor]

Which "upper end 18F's" are you referring to?

The only chips I can find with V-Bat are the PIC24's.

PIC24F Family Ref. Manual, Sect. 57. Power-Saving Features ...

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PBP3, and happier!

[fowardbias]

18F97J94, I believe there is another one or two of different series