Having read the previous sections, you are now ready to actually load the test program, to check out the system and yourself!
SETTING SWITCHES
The development boards are equipped with various switches and controls
that allow you to use different clock speeds for your programs. There are
some minor differences in the naming of a switch and a pot on the version
1 and version 2 boards.
| ITEM | VERSION 2 BOARD | VERSION 1 BOARD |
| Fast / slow switch | S4 | S6 |
| Potentiometer | RV1 | VR1 |
Preset potentiometer RV1 (program clock rate control) should be set fully clockwise for this test. It sets the program flow rate to its fastest (as allowed by the presence or absence of capacitor C6, as selected by switch S4 - slow/fast). At other times we will leave it to your discretion to set RV1 to whatever position you feel best shows things happening at a readily viewable rate (occasionally, we may give you guidance on this point).
Set the fast/slow switch to slow. This sets the timing into the slowest range.
You must also set the XT/RC switch so that RC is selected.
Connect the demo PCB to the computer's printer port and switch on power to the PCB.
CLOCK SWITCH SETTINGS
The settings for the switches for each tutorial are given in the first
few lines of the full listing for the tutorials themselves. You will also
see information on the status of switches for the LCD and 7-segment displays.
For example:
;:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
; Configuration data
; PICmicro MCU type: 16F84
; Oscillator: RC mode, slow, VR1 fully clockwise (max.rate)
; LCD display: off
; 7-segment display: off
; Version 2 board settings: J14 links: Digital
;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ASSEMBLING / DOWNLOADING A PROGRAM
Assuming your IDE is running and TUTA03.ASM is loaded:
Click the 'Build' button on the toolbar of the IDE. This will assemble the .ASM file into a .HEX file and, if successful, will automatically download this .HEX file to the PICmicro. Once the program has been loaded into the PICmicro, it will immediately start running. An on-screen message also confirms that the program has been sent. You should see a light chaser effect on the Port B LEDs.
Providing you do not close the IDE your program is immediately available for resending to the PICmicro. This allows you to Load a program into the PICmicro, check that it is doing what you expect of it (or not!), to go back to the IDE, make changes to the code and then re-send the new version of the same program. All nice and helpful.
If you do not get a response from the LEDs during the running of TUTA03.ASM in the previous section, double-check that you are using the correct the printer port register being used by your computer, as discussed earlier in the Special Note on the PICmicro Configuration page.
If you have any further problems then please see the technical support section of the Matrix Multimedia web site.
OTHER TESTS
Also included on the CD is a file called TUTATEST.ASM. This will allow
you to test port A and Port B LEDs. On our website you will also find source
code for other tests including the factory test routine for the board which
is conducted with a 28 pin device.