We have created an Integrated Development Environment to make the process of creating, assembling and downloading programs quick and easy. This IDE is essentially a text editor that allows you to edit ASM programs with additional buttons that let you assemble your programs and download them to the PICmicro Development Board without having to load any other program.

You will also use this IDE throughout the course to view the full listings of each tutorial.

There are two ways to open the IDE:

1) Where you see the grey 'Full listing / IDE' button (shown below) you will have an opportunity to use the IDE.

You will see this button in every tutorial section on this CD ROM. When you open the IDE from this button you will notice that it always opens with the program that is being discussed in the tutorial already loaded.

2) You can open also the IDE from the start menu (Start->Programs->ASM for PICmicros->tools->ASM-IDE)

You not only use the IDE to edit and save your programs but also to compile them and send them to the development board. Once you have finished this course you may want to continue to use the IDE for developing your programs.

When you open the IDE you will see eight buttons on the tool bar. It is important that you understand the function of each button. The best way to achieve this is to:

- Open the IDE.
- Press the Help button in the IDE window

Please click on the button above and make sure you can start the IDE. This is loaded with tutorial 3. Do not worry about how the program works for now - at this moment in time we just want to use it to make sure your hardware is working OK. Have a quick explore and - leaving the IDE running - proceed to the next screen.