PIC Toolkit Mk 2 by John Becker
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Everyday Practical Electronics/ ETI May 1999

MICROCHIP's new PIC16F87x series of Flash EEPROM microcontrollers offer
greater program capacity and more facilities than the familiar PIC16x84 series.
The latter, though, will still find a plethora of uses in less-demanding circuits
where the greater sophistication of the '87s is not required. There are roles
for both families.

Consequently, the PIC16x84 Toolkit of July '98 has been upgraded to make it
compatible with both the '84 and the '87. Additionally, the controlling software
has been considerably enhanced in a number of ways, offering more functions than
the Mk 1 version.

Whilst Toolkit can be used entirely as a stand-alone design, it can also be
interfaced with the PIC Tutorial (Mar-May '98) and the PICtutor (CD-ROM)
development boards. The Mk2 Toolkit has the same basic options as the Mk 1,
with the following additional options:

o) Assemble TASM .ASM to .OBJ totally replacing the need for a TASM shareware
   Assembler and its associated Send programs

o) Directory paths display/change eliminating any need to make changes to the
   Basic program (as required by Mk 1)

o) Directory display/select - displays file directories of choice, and allows
   automatic loading of selected file for use in any main program option.

o) Setup function allows PC ports to be tested and selected, and the PC's
   ability/inability to read (for PIC verify/disassemble) from its selected port
   established

o) Load/read data to/from the PIC's internal EEPROM data memory

o) Direct access to and return from DOS EDIT for editing any text files
   (.ASM source code files, for example).

This software is far more sophisticated than the Mk 1 and can be run in QBasic,
QuickBASIC, or as a stand-alone (.EXE) program without any need for a Basic controller.
By design, the software can also control Toolkit Mk 1 without modification.

The latest version of the software is available from
ftp://ftp.epemag.wimborne.co.uk/pub/PICS/PICtoolkit2

Please refer to the EPE web site for details of ordering back issues, subscriptions etc.
http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk

Last updated 30th March 1999