Release Notes for 16-Bit Language Tools for MPLAB® IDE
v2.05
31 October 2006

Table of Contents
  1. Overview
  2. GNU General Public License
  3. Devices Supported
  4. Installation
  5. Migrating to Version 2.0x
  6. What's New in this Release
  7. Documentation Updates
  8. Fixed Issues
  9. Limitations
  10. Environment Variables Modified
  11. Customer Support


1. Overview

The 16-Bit language tools consist of an assembler (pic30-as.exe) and a linker (pic30-ld.exe). These tools are sometimes referred to as the "ASM30 Suite". The user's guide describes additional utilities that are not supported by the MPLAB IDE and therefore are not supplied in this release.

Section 7 of this README contains documentation updates that have not yet made it to the online or printed manuals.

2. GNU General Public License

With the exceptions noted below, the 16-Bit tools are written and distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) which means that its source code is freely distributed and available to the public.

The source for the tools under the GNU GPL may be downloaded separately from the Microchip WWW web page. You may read the GNU GPL in the file named COPYING located the top level of your install directory. A general discussion of principles underlying the GPL may be found at www.gnu.org/copyleft.

Exceptions to the GNU GPL:

Support code provided for the header files, linker scripts, and runtime libraries are also exceptions to, and therefore not covered under, the GPL.

3. Devices Supported

The following dsPIC30 devices are supported:

     30F1010  30F2010  30F3010  30F4011  30F5011  30F6010
              30F2011  30F3011  30F4012  30F5013  30F6010A
              30F2012  30F3012  30F4013  30F5015  30F6011
              30F2020  30F3013           30F5016  30F6011A
              30F2023  30F3014                    30F6012
                                                  30F6012A
                                                  30F6013
                                                  30F6013A
                                                  30F6014
                                                  30F6014A
                                                  30F6015

The following PIC24 devices are supported:

     24FJ32GA002   24FJ64GA002    24FJ96GA006    24FJ128GA006
     24FJ32GA004   24FJ64GA004    24FJ96GA008    24FJ128GA008
                   24FJ64GA006    24FJ96GA010    24FJ128GA010
                   24FJ64GA008
                   24FJ64GA010

     24HJ64GP206   24HJ128GP206   24HJ256GP206
     24HJ64GP210   24HJ128GP210   24HJ256GP210
     24HJ64GP506   24HJ128GP306   24HJ256GP610
     24HJ64GP510   24HJ128GP310   
                   24HJ128GP506
                   24HJ128GP510

The following dsPIC33 devices are supported:

     33FJ64GP206   33FJ128GP206   33FJ256GP506
     33FJ64GP306   33FJ128GP306   33FJ256GP510
     33FJ64GP310   33FJ128GP310   33FJ256GP710
     33FJ64GP706   33FJ128GP706
     33FJ64GP708   33FJ128GP708
     33FJ64GP710   33FJ128GP710

     33FJ64MC506   33FJ128MC506   33FJ256MC510
     33FJ64MC508   33FJ128MC510   33FJ256MC710
     33FJ64MC510   33FJ128MC706
     33FJ64MC706   33FJ128MC708
     33FJ64MC710   33FJ128MC710

The following 'virtual' devices are supported:

PIC24 and dsPIC33 devices do not currently have peripheral library support.

4. Installation

The dsPIC language tools are installed with the MPLAB IDE installer.

5. Migrating to Version 2.0x

Users migrating from versions prior to v2.03 may experience linker failures due to undefined symbols if they have referred to the now obsoleted symbols __dsPIC30COFF or __dsPIC30ELF or have incorporated crt0.s, crt1.s, or libm.a into their projects by copying them from the default install location. Changing the symbol names or incorporating the new version of the mentioned files will solve this issue (preferably by referring to them, rather than copying them into your project directory). Please see documentation updates for more details.

Users of previous versions of MPLAB C30 (version 1.2x and earlier) may wish to read the v1.3x migration document which may be found on MPLAB C30 download area of the Microchip web site.

6. What's New in this Release.

v2.05

A single enhancements listed in the 'Fixed Issues' section.

v2.04

Several enhancements are listed in the 'Fixed Issues' section.

v2.03

This release provides support for a number of new devices.

This release provides support for new configuration fuses related CodeGuard™ Advanced on-chip Code Protection features.

There are some further enhancements listed in the 'Fixed Issues' section.

v2.02

This release provides support for a number of new devices. Additionally there are some further enhancements listed in the 'Fixed Issues' section.

v2.01

This release provides support for a number of new devices. Additionally there are some further enhancements listed in the 'Fixed Issues' section.

v2.00

This release provides a number of enhancements to make accessing the unique features of the dsPIC easier. These are summarized below, with more information available in the accompanying documentation.

Some highlights:

Assembler

Linker

Documentation

7. Documentation Updates

8. Fixed Issues

v2.05

v2.04

v2.03

v2.02

v2.01

v2.00

9. Limitations

The current limitations are as follows:

10. Environment Variables Modified

This installation makes no changes to the way environment variables have been updated previously.

Modified environment variables are identified as part of the installation procedure and are documented in the manuals.

11. Customer Support

The Microchip Web Site

Microchip provides online support via our web site at www.microchip.com. This web site is used as a means to make files and information easily available to customers. Accessible by using your favorite Internet browser, the web site contains the following information:

Development Systems Customer Change Notification Service

Microchip's customer notification service helps keep customers current on Microchip products. Subscribers will receive e-mail notification whenever there are changes, updates, revisions or errata related to a specified product family or development tool of interest.

To register, access the Microchip web site at www.microchip.com, click on Customer Change Notification and follow the registration instructions.

The Development Systems product group categories are:

Additional Support

Users of Microchip products can receive assistance through several channels:

Customers should contact their distributor, representative or field application engineer (FAE) for support. Local sales offices are also available to help customers. A listing of sales offices and locations is available on our website.

Technical support is available through the web site at: http://support.microchip.com