Picbasic errors

[Archangel]

Hi Ken,
the code you are using is listed in his book, PIC Microcontroller Project Book, page 201, Yes?
It appears as though you are using PIC BASIC PRO.
The code you are using was written for PIC BASIC , not pro, look farther down the page, the code for your PBP compiler is listed and continues on the next page. This problem you are having centers upon the author is so deeply used to adding those things into a program that he forgets, a beginner doesn't already know this. You have to create variables in order to use them, and you need to INCLUDE some files sometimes to make things like serial communication and LCD modules work. Chuck Hellebuyck wrote a book, which is not perfect either (at least in my opinion) but it is a good one, called Programming PIC Microcontrollers With PIC Basic and it takes you by the hand here, and the code works, I have both books and one other plus "The Manual" and I still ask for help as I am only about a month farther down this road than you are. I really recommend you read as many posts in this forum as your eyes can tolerate. YOU WILL LEARN TONS, if skills can be weighed that way.
Hope this helps.
JS

[lerameur]

yes I found that out a couple of hours ago,
I even saw on a web site the exact program I was doing in both version:
http://www.imagesco.com/articles/lcd/05.html
The second book from John Iovine explains this.
But I still having trouble sending information to the LCD. It powers on. He says that I need only one wire to the LCD. I tried every pin out possible and it do not work., It should be pin 6 on the chip. Do i need to rewire the lcd ?

ken

[Archangel]

Ken,
Generaly serial data for 1 way communication requires a data wire and a ground.
2 way communication needs a second data wire. If you are using a serial Backpack on an LCD module then you need a power wire.

Regards
JS

[lerameur]

Yes I do have a wire goping to ground, Pin 1 on the LCD and Vcc, pin 2 on the lCD, There re 16 pin on the lcd and no idea which one is the incoming.. My pic16F84a is program to output on pin 6.
main:
pause 1000 ' wait for the LCD to startup
serout PortB.0,0,[$FE,$01] ' clear the screen
serout PortB.0,0,["Wherever you go"] ' send string “Wherever you go”
serout PortB.0,0,[$FE,$C0] ' move the cursor to the 2nd line
serout PortB.0,0,[" there you are "] ' send string “ there you are ”
pause 1000 ' pause for a second
goto main ' loop

[Archangel]

If you do not have a serial LCD, which is to say if it does not have an extra circuit board with a PIC or other controller you must use LCDOUT not serout.
Look at the diagram on page187 of Mr. Iovine's book and accompanying code.

Or page 96 of the MELABS p basic pro manual. The LCD unit with 16 pins or 14 pins on the non backlit units require extra circuitry, usually a PIC to work. The link I am providing is a source for one I have used to convert to serial use, however; this unit uses some Propriority commands which are available on his website, go and look at his links. http://www.wulfden.org/k107/index.shtml
Looking is free.

[lerameur]

well on page it is a test circuit for toxic gaz. but RB3 of the 16F84A is directly into the lcd screen. I guess his board is different. BUt I tried changing SEROUT to LCDOUT but it do not work either.

There must be a way to print out without using another circuit.

ken

[BobK]

Hi Lerameur,

There are basically 2 types of LCD dsplays, a parallel one and a serial one. It is easier for these authors to greatly "simplify" software examples using a serial LCD display. It only requires 1 wire connected to the PIC. The command structure is also somewhat easier to use. The serial display will also require 2 wires for power. A contrast pot is usually on the second PC board. This second board is connected to the 16 or so pins on the LCD board.

The LCD you are talking about that you have is a parallel display, as long as nothing esle meaning a second circuit board mounted on its back. You will need to put 2 wires for power, 1 wire with a potentiometer wired between + and ground for contrast, a wire for Enable, and a wire for the register select pin. Some more advanced applications will require another wire for Read/Write functions. Now to make things seem even more complicated, you have 2 modes of operation on a parallel LCD. 4 bit and 8 bit operation. In 8 bit operation you will use all 8 data lines on the LCD for sending data to the display plus the control lines. In 4 bit operation you tell PBP (software) which set of 4 data lines you are going to use, either the lower 4 bits (DB0 to DB3) or the higher 4 bits (DB4 to DB7). These setups are called DEFINES in the program and they specify how you plan to wire your display to the PIC. Once that is done, you can write to the display using LCDOUT commands.

I and the rest of the members of the forum STRONGLY suggest you spend some time getting and reading the datasheets on your LCD display and the PIC you are using. (no books to buy, just download these for free) And plan on spending a couple of days reading the posts on this forum. I can also guarantyee you that you will get all of the information you need to make your projects work. Of course, if you are still confused you can ask for assistance here.

I also have both of the books mentioned in previous posts to this thread. You really need to pay close attention to their program examples. It does say they are for either PicBasic Compiler or Pic Basic Pro. I have been doing PIC projects for about 3 years now and I would have to say that this forum has been fantastic as far as getting an education on the subject matter. Up until Melanie's recent post about helping noobies I to was concerned of being embarassed or ridiculed about asking the proverbial "stupid question" but I can say that by reading the old posts here and studying the data sheets and trying many things you will get the results you are looking for. Don't hesitate to ask questions but try to find the answers yourself first. I made myself a notebook based on the many topics that have been discussed here and refer to them first if I have a problem. These people here are really great and I appreciate the time and effort they put into helping total strangers all around the world. This is a great site!

Keep plugging away. I hope my explanation helps you out.

BobK