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Converting programs from BS2 to PICBASIC PRO™

 
Many users migrate to PICBASIC PRO™ from BASIC Stamp II.  Others find BSII program samples on the web that they would like to use with PICBASIC PRO.  Here is a guide for converting BSII code to PICBASIC PRO.  This works best if you have PICBASIC PRO Compiler version 2.40 or later.

1.  Add the following line to the top of the program to define the BS2 variables for PICBASIC PRO:

    include "bs2defs.bas"


2.  If DEBUG commands are used in the code, you may have to configure the PBP DEBUG parameters.   This is done with DEFINEs at the beginning of your program.  Refer to the DEBUG page in the PICBASIC PRO Compiler manual for the details.


3.  The BASIC Stamp variable names Dirs, Dira, Dirh, Dirl and Dir0-Dir15 cannot be used with the PICBASIC PRO Compiler. TRIS should be used instead, but has the opposite state of Dirs.  In other words, invert each bit in the Dir command when setting the TRIS register.

BSII syntax Equivalent PBP syntax
   
Dir0 = 1 TRISB.0 = 0
Dir10 = 0 TRISC.2 = 1
DirH = %00001111 TRISC = %11110000
Dirs = $FF0F TRISC = $00 : TRISB = $F0

On most PICmicro® MCUs, the Dir names correspond to TRIS registers as follows:

DirA      >>       TRISA
DirL      >>        TRISB
DirH      >>       TRISC
Dirs       >>         TRISC : TRISB (combined - no direct equivalent in PBP)
Dir0 - Dir7     >>       TRISB.0 - TRISB.7
Dir8 - Dir15   >>       TRISC.0 - TRISC.7


4.  OutA should be changed to PORTA in PICBASIC PRO.


5.  Nibble variable types are not supported in PICBASIC PRO.  You can usually use a BYTE variable instead.  If you are splitting a byte with .lownib and .highnib, you'll have to use math operators instead.

BSII syntax Equivalent PBP syntax
   
x = mybyte.lownib x = (mybyte & $0F)
x = mybyte.highnib x = (mybyte >> 4)

6.  When you write a For..Next loop and say that you want the index to count from high to low, the stamp assumes that you want to increment by -1 on each iteration.  PICBASIC PRO makes no such assumption.  You have to specify the Step value.

BSII syntax Equivalent PBP syntax
   
For x = 16 to 0 For x = 16 to 0 Step -1

7.  SERIN/SEROUT commands must be changed to SERIN2/SEROUT2.  This allows you to use the same syntax for the remainder of the command.

BSII syntax Equivalent PBP syntax
   
Serout  pin, mode, ["Hello"] Serout2  pin, mode, ["Hello"]

8.  LOOKUP/LOOKDOWN commands may need to be modified.

PICBASIC PRO does not allow Word-size values or variables in LOOKUP or LOOKDOWN.  LOOKUP2 and LOOKDOWN2 are provided for this purpose.

In PICBASIC PRO, expressions are not allowed in any of these commands.  You will have to rewrite these instances using a temporary variable.

BSII syntax Equivalent PBP syntax
   
Lookdown x, [235, z], y Lookdown2 x, [235, z], y
Lookdown x, [235, 1000], y Lookdown2 x, [235, 1000], y
Lookup x, [10, (a+b), 0], y tempvar = a+b
Lookup2 x, [10,tempvar,0], y

That should do it.  If you missed anything, you will receive errors when you compile, telling you the line number that needs updating.