Installing PICBASIC PRO Compiler (versions 2.46A to 2.50C) in MPLAB®

Instructions for PBP 2.60 and later

PBP versions earlier than 2.46A are not recommended for use within modern versions of MPLAB.  If you are currently using an early version of PBP with an early version of MPLAB, upgrading MPLAB may require than you upgrade PBP.

PBP versions PRIOR TO 2.60 are compatible with MPLAB versions up to 8.15A.  If you have MPLAB 8.20 or later, you will need to either downgrade to MPLAB 8.15A or upgrade to PBP 2.60.

Download MPLAB 8.15a (93M ZIP)

Install MPLAB and its components.  In the following examples, the default installation directory (C:\Program Files\Microchip\...) will be used.

Install the PICBASIC PRO Compiler from the CD.  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.

Include the directories in your system's search path

The next step is to include both of the install directories within the search path on your system.  The procedure differs depending on the version of Windows running.

The path that you need to add in order to locate MPASMWIN is different for different version of MPLAB.

For MPLAB versions 7.xx and later, the default location is:  

"C:\Program Files\Microchip\MPASM Suite".

Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista

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 paths to MPLAB and PICBASIC PRO 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;C:\Program Files\Microchip\MPASM Suite

Restart your computer after making changes to the path variable.

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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 paths to MPLAB and PICBASIC PRO to the end of the line, separating each path with a semicolon.

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

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

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Selecting PICBASIC PRO Compiler as the language tool within MPLAB®

Start MPLAB and select Set Language Tool Locations under the Project menu.  Select the appropriate Toolsuite Name (PICBASIC PRO Compiler). Use the browse button to select PBPW.EXE within the subdirectory where it was installed.

If the PicBasic Pro toolsuite does not appear in MPLAB, go to Start > All Programs > PICBASIC PRO Compiler and click on "Install MPLAB Plugin".  On Windows Vista and Windows 7 systems, you may need to right-click and select "Run As Administrator".

Creating a BASIC project within MPLAB

Run the Project Wizard to create a project in MPLAB.

Select the desired processor.

Select appropriate ME Labs, Inc. Tool Suite.

Name the project.  Choose the directory where the source file exists.

Add the source file to the project.  

Click Next, then Finish.  You should be able to edit the source and build the project.