MPLAB® IPE General Settings

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

Contents

To view and change the General Settings in MPLAB® Integrated Programming Environment (IPE), log in to the Advanced mode from the Advanced mode dialog, on the left side of the IPE v2.10 window, and click on Settings.

MPLAB IPE advanced mode menu settings

Settings include the following areas:

  • Programming Options
  • Tool Pack Selection
  • Device Pack Selection
  • Diagnostics
  • MPLAB PICkit™ 4 In-Circuit Debugger Programming
  • Programmer-To-Go

MPLAB IPE Environment settings

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Programming Options

Programming Options enable the programming of registers used to hold calibration values for a device.

Tool Pack Selection

Tool Pack Selection provides you with two options.

  1. Use the latest installed Tool Pack (recommended)
  2. Use a specific Tool Pack that opens a dialog showing the available version(s)

Device Pack Selection

This selection is only available if a tool is connected, which means that changing the device pack is enabled only if the tool is connected.

Diagnostics

The Diagnostics feature allows you to save logging messages to a file, with various logging levels. By default, the Logging Level is set to OFF.

MPLAB IPE environment diagnostic settings

To set the message logging level, click on the Logging Level pull-down menu. Refer to the descriptions of each logging level below:

  • OFF: No logging
  • SEVERE: Log severe (error) messages only
  • WARNING: Log warning messages only
  • INFO: Log informational messages only
  • CONFIG: Log configuration information only
  • FINE: Log some module-to-module communication
  • FINER: Log more module-to-module communication
  • FINEST: Log all module-to-module communication

MPLAB IPE environment diagnostic levels

To save the log file in a folder directory, click on the Path button to select the path then type the name of the log file.

MPLAB IPE settings log file

 

Enabling logging may severely degrade the performance of MPLAB X IDE. We recommend that you do not use this feature without specific directions through the Microchip Technical Support Portal.

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MPLAB PICkit™ 4 Programming

The PICkit 4 Tool option(s) pane in the Special settings allows the user to declare some programming options of the PICkit 4.  See the accompanying image for selection options.

MPLAB IPE environment PICkit4 settings

SettingDescription
PGC ConfigurationSelect either none, pull up or pull down. The default is pull down
PGD resistor value (kΩ)Type in a resistor value from 0-50.The default value is 4.7 kΩ
PGC resistor value (kΩ)Type in a resistor value from 0-50.The default value is 4.7 kΩ
LED Brightness settingSelect the level of brightness from 1 (darkest) to 10 (brightest); the default is 5
PGD ConfigurationSelect either none, pull up or pull down. The default is pull down
Program SpeedSelect either Low, Normal or High. The default is Normal.

The programming speed option helps troubleshoot problems by slowing the speed down to allow sufficient time for signal levels to stabilize. The PICkit 4 can slow down In-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™), which may help communication problems brought upon by heavy loading on the ICSP lines. Microchip recommends that these lines are clear of any components. The programming speed control may help to program boards that already have existing components on these lines.

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Programmer-To-Go

The PICkit 4 tool also has a unique programmer-to-go function with the addition of a micro SD card slot to hold project code and the ability to be powered by the target board. 

If the Programmer-To-Go option is to be used, in the Image Name field, type the name of the file that will be used for programming. The default is <your project name>_ptg, but you can edit the name. This will be the folder name on the microSDHC card that contains the appropriate files for Programmer-To-Go.

MPLAB IPE environment programmer-to-go settings

SettingDescription
Send Image to ToolThe check box is selected by default. With the box checked, the PTG image is created and then sent to the microSDHC card in the connected MPLAB PICkit 4
Program DeviceThe check box is selected by default. When the check box is selected, the device connected to the MPLAB PICkit 4 is programmed.
Note: If both the Send Image to Tool and Program Device checkboxes are unchecked, see the MPLAB PICkit 4 In-Circuit Debugger User’s Guide

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