Using the MPLAB® X IDE Main Toolbar

Last modified by Microchip on 2023/11/09 09:12

The main toolbar is located below the Main Menu near the top of the MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) user interface. The toolbar provides shortcuts for executing IDE functions, displaying project status, and links to online help and the Microchip store.

At installation, the toolbar is populated with a preset selection of icons. The toolbar is fully configurable by the user. 

MPLAB main toolbar

Toolbar Groups

The icons on the toolbar are placed into groups.  From the View Menu (View > Toolbar) you will be able to select the icon groups appearing on the toolbar.

Checkboxes control which icons groups appear in the toolbar

You can add or remove groups using the checkboxes in the View Menu.

Remove icon groups by unchecking items in the menu

Toolbar Icons and Definitions

IconNameKeyboardMenuDescription
new file iconNew Filekey board ctrl and nFile > New File…Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
new project iconNew Projectkeyboad ctrl-shft-nFile > New Project…Creates a new project with the New Project wizard.
open project iconOpen Projectctrl-shft-oFile > Open Project…Creates a new file with the New File wizard.
save all iconSave Allctrl-shft-sFile > Save AllCreates a new file with the New File wizard.
undo iconUndoctrl-shft-zEdit > UndoCreates a new file with the New File wizard.
redo iconRedoctrl-shft-yEdit > RedoReverses (one at a time) a series of Undo commands.
combo box button iconSet Project Configuration  

Selects project configuration. Choose “default” or “Customize”.

By default, this will show default. However, if you create a new configuration, its name will show up here as well allowing you to rapidly switch between multiple configurations. For example, one configuration may use the ICD3 and another the simulator.

build project iconBuild Project Run > Build ProjectBuilds the project using the compiler/assembler selected in the Project Properties. The Build command in MPLAB X is roughly equivalent to the Make command in MPLAB 8. The make utility will build only the files in the project that have changed since the last build. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
rebuild project iconClean and Build Project Run > Clean and Build ProjectDeletes files from previous builds and then builds all project files. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
program target project iconMake and Program Target Project  Builds project in release mode then programs the PIC® Microcontroller. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
read target project iconRead Device Memory  Reads target device memory and loads into MPLAB X IDE. Click on the down arrow for other related options.
hold in reset iconHold in Reset  Unlike the other toolbar buttons, this is a toggle switch. When it is pressed, it will assert the reset line to prevent the target from running. This button is most useful in conjunction with the Program Target button. After programming the target, Hold in Reset may be used to release the target board to run without having to disconnect the programmer.
debug projectDebug Project Debug > Debug Project (Name)Builds the project in debug mode (links in the debug executive), programs the target, and runs the ­project on the target using the debugger selected in the project properties.
program counter iconProgram Counter  Shows the current value of the Program Counter when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active.
status bits iconStatus Bits  Shows the current value of the Status bits when a debug session is running. These may be visible even when a debug session is not active