Installing CodeDesigner Lite

Download the software

The CodeDesigner Lite download consists of a self-extracting executable.  Run the executable to start the install utility.

If you want a shortcut on your desktop, create one from the executable (cdlite.exe).  Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the folder in which you installed CodeDesigner.  In Windows 98 and 2000, right click on the exe file, and select Send To >> Desktop (create shortcut).  In Windows 95 and NT, right click on the exe file and select Create Shortcut. Drag the shortcut that appears to your desktop.

Install the PICBASIC™ or PICBASIC PRO™ Compiler according to the instructions found in the readme file on the floppy disk.  Avoid long directory names in the installation path.  Some versions will have problems if installed in C:\Program Files\PBP.  In the following examples, we assume that PICBASIC PRO has been installed in C:\PBP.

Run CodeDesigner from your start menu, or use the shortcut created above.  When the CodeDesigner window opens, you must configure the compiler options (and... optionally, the programmer options).

To do this, click compile on the top menu and select compiler options.  Select your compiler from the first drop-down list.  Click the Find Compiler button, select the drive where your compiler is installed, then click Start Search.  Pick the compiler executable from the resulting list and click the appropriate Configure button.  This procedure applies to programmer configuration, also.

You should be ready to go.  Open the blink.bas sample file (found in the samples folder in your compiler install directory) and click the compile button on the toolbar. (Help messages pop up if you hold your mouse cursor over the buttons.)

If you get errors when you try to compile, try setting paths according to the following procedure.  The procedure differs depending on the version of Windows running.

Windows 95/98/ME

The search path is specified in a file called autoexec.bat, that should be located in the root directory of your C drive (C:\).  You can edit the file with a text editor such as notepad, or run msconfig (Win98 only).  

The path statement uses the format: PATH=path1;path2;....  Add the path to your compiler to the end of the line, separating each path with a semicolon.

An example path statement is: PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\PROGRA~1\MPLAB;C:\PBP
Notice that the "Program Files" directory must be shortened to its 8 character DOS equivalent, "Progra~1".

Restart your computer after making changes to the autoexec.bat file.

Windows NT

In Windows NT, the path statement is found on the Environment tab of the system properties dialog box.  

Right click the My Computer icon on your desktop and click Properties.  Click the Environment tab.

Find the Path variable in the System Variables window and click to highlight it.  The Variable and Value textboxes should fill with the Path information.

Add the path to your compiler to the end of the line in the Variable Values text box, separating each path with a semicolon.

An example path statement is: %SystemRoot%\System32\;C:\PBP

Restart your computer after making changes to the path variable.

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Windows 2000/XP

The path statement is found in the Environment Variables dialog box.  To get there, right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties.  

Click the Advanced tab, then the button labeled Environment Variables....  Find the Path variable in the System Variables window, highlight the line, and click Edit. 

Add the path to your compiler to the end of the line in the Variable Values text box, separating each path with a semicolon.

An example path statement is: %SystemRoot%\System32\;C:\PBP

Restart your computer after making changes to the path variable.