FED PIC C Compiler Simulation Features

Scroll down to view FED PIC C Compiler simulation features, or click on the Simulation Feature links immediately below to jump directly to a section of interest.

FED PIC C Compiler Simulation Feature Index:

External Device Simulation
Full Simulation Support Within IDE (Debugging)
Waveform Analyser For External I/O

External Device Simulation

        External device simulation allows the user to add and connect typical devices which might be connected to the PICmicroŽ MCU in real world examples considerably enhancing the debugging capability of these tools. External device pins may be connected to the MCU, to a low or high logic level, or left unconnected.

        For example consider a 7 segment display or an LCD module. Previously with our tools (or with other simulators), the program would be simulated and the ports traced. Debugging these devices would require that text trace files or the waveform analyser be used and examined to convert patterns into displayed values manually. In practice this is so hard, that only when the real circuit was constructed would it be possible to check out correct operation.

        Here is a screenshot showing a multiplexed 7 segment display with 2 pushbuttons connected to a WIZ-C application. Note that the display shows the lit digit in bright red, but the unlit digits are shown in a dull colour, this simulates persistence of vision with multiplexed displays. Also shown are two push buttons.

7 segment example

The following device types are supported:

Logic Analyzer
Clock Generator
LEDs
Seven Segment Displays
LCD modules
Serial Terminals
I2C Terminal (to simulate I2C devices)
Device pin outputs
Hex Keypad
Push Buttons
Analog potentiometer
PWM voltmeter

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Simulation Support Within IDE (Debugging)

All versions of the FED C Compiler produce assembler code which can be simulated and debugged within the IDE. Within FED C, the program may be fully debugged, the C Source code is displayed alongside the assembler code and may be single stepped or run to a breakpoint.

Variables may be examined in char, int, long or float form, decimal or hex, signed or unsigned, or hex values dumped. For the professional version, C types may be examined in source format - for example structures are displayed with member names and contents.

Here are some features of the debugger:

Full editor with syntax highlighting in color. Follow your code as it steps through the editor window, view help file information directly from the code.
Set breakpoint on line, jump to label, evaluate memory variables all by single click.
Simulator allows addressed, conditional and timed breakpoints.
Simulator runs up to 50 times faster than DOS based simulators and 10 times faster than some other Windows based simulators.
Waveform Analyzer allows any register or port value to be examined in analog (graphical), waveform, or numeric values, allowing you to check your program directly against your predicted waveforms.
Debugger allows variables to be examined in byte, word or long form, octal, decimal, hex and floating form, also dump memory areas.
Profiler examines and times called routines - use it to optimize out bottle necks and check timing loops.
Track errors and jump straight to error lines.
Input stimuli include clocks, direct values and asynchronous serial data.
Allows full use of 32 bit Windows facilities - controls and long filenames.
Includes full terminal emulator program and support for in-circuit debugging on all devices.

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Waveform Analyzer For External I/O

The waveform analyzer operates during simulation and allows users to examine either external pins of the device, or internal registers in graphical form.

In the example screenshot below, we can see the TMR0 register in oscilloscope format (it counts from 0 to 255 and then resets) and the bits of the register shown as indivdual waves. The pins of Port A are shown as a hex value - they do not change in this example.

Waveform Analyzer Screenshot

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