Integrated Tools

Active Comments Editor

Active Comments Editor is a tool, particularly useful when working with Lcd display. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › Active Comments Editor or by clicking the Active Comment Editor Icon Active Comment Editor Icon from Tools toolbar.

Active Comments Editor

ASCII Chart

The ASCII Chart is a handy tool, particularly useful when working with Lcd display. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › ASCII chart or by clicking the View ASCII Chart Icon View ASCII Chart Icon from Tools toolbar.

ASCII Chart

EEPROM Editor

The EEPROM Editor is used for manipulating MCU's EEPROM memory. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › EEPROM Editor.

When you run mikroElektronika programmer software from mikroC PRO for AVR IDE - project_name.hex file will be loaded automatically while ihex file must be loaded manually.

EEPROM Window

GLCD Bitmap Editor

The mikroC PRO for AVR includes the Graphic Lcd Bitmap Editor. Output is the mikroC PRO for AVR compatible code. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › Glcd Bitmap Editor.

Glcd Bitmap Editor

Lcd Custom Character Editor

mikroC PRO for AVR includes the Lcd Custom Character Editor. Output is mikroC PRO for AVR compatible code. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › Lcd Custom Character.

Lcd Custom Character Editor

mikroBootloader

What is a Bootloader

The microcontrollers have the ability to write to their own program memory. This feature allows a small bootloader program to receive and write new firmware into memory. In its most simple form, the bootloader starts the user code running, unless it finds that new firmware should be downloaded. If there is new firmware to be downloaded, it gets the data and writes it into program memory. There are many variations and additional features that can be added to improve reliability and simplify the use of the bootloader.

  Note : mikroBootloader can be used only with MCUs that support flash write.

How to use mikroBootloader

  1. Load the MCU with the appropriate hex file using the conventional programming techniques.
  2. Start mikroBootloader from the drop-down menu Tools › Bootoader.
  3. Click on Change Settings and select the COM port and the BAUD that will be used.
  4. Click on Connect and wait until connected. Since the bootcode in the MCU only gives the computer 4-5 sec to connect, you should reset the MCU and then click on the Connect button within 4-5 seconds.
  5. Click on Browse for HEX and select the HEX file you would like to upload.
  6. The last line in then history window should now read “Connected”.
  7. To start the upload, just click on the Begin uploading button.
  8. Your program will written to the MCU. Bootloader will report an errors that may occur.
  9. Reset your MCU and start to execute.

Bootloader

Features

The boot code gives the computer 5 seconds to get connected to it. If not, it starts running the existing user code. If there is a new user code to be downloaded, the boot code receives and writes the data into program memory.

The more common features a bootloader may have are listed below:

Integrating User Code and Boot Code

The boot code almost always uses the Reset location and some additional program memory. It is a simple piece of code that does not need to use interrupts; therefore, the user code can use the normal interrupt vector at 0x0004. The boot code must avoid using the interrupt vector, so it should have a program branch in the address range 0x0000 to 0x0003. The boot code must be programmed into memory using conventional programming techniques, and the configuration bits must be programmed at this time. The boot code is unable to access the configuration bits, since they are not mapped into the program memory space.

Seven Segment Editor

The Seven Segment Editor is a convenient visual panel which returns decimal/hex value for any viable combination you would like to display on seven segment display. Click on the parts of seven segment image to get the requested value in the edit boxes. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › Seven Segment Editor or by clicking the Seven Segment Editor Icon Seven Segment Editor Icon from Tools toolbar.

Seven Segment Editor

UDP Terminal

The mikroC PRO for AVR includes the UDP Terminal. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › UDP Terminal.

UDP Terminal

USART Terminal

The mikroC PRO for AVR includes the USART communication terminal for RS232 communication. You can launch it from the drop-down menu Tools › USART Terminal or by clicking the USART Terminal Icon USART Terminal Icon from Tools toolbar.

USART Terminal

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