With the release of Microchip's MPLAB 3.40.09, the PicBasic and PicBasic Pro Compiler can now be used within the IDE. You only need a few additional files to make it happen.
First, download the latest release of MPLAB, if you don't have it, from Microchip's web site. You need at least version 3.40.09. Install MPLAB and make sure it is in your path.
Next download our zipped add-in files. These files add the microEngineering Labs, Inc. tool suite (the PicBasic and PicBasic Pro Compilers) hooks into MPLAB. Unzip the files into the subdirectory MPLAB was installed into. MPLAB 3.99.06 and greater already include these files, so if you have this version or later, it is not necessary to download these add-in files.
For the original PicBasic Compiler to work properly from within MPLAB, you need to download the PBC140a header files. These header files use the full PICmicro name, as is the Microchip convention. They should only be used with version 1.40 of the PicBasic Compiler. If you do not have 1.40, see our upgrade page for information on how to obtain it.
The PicBasic and/or PicBasic Pro Compiler should also have been installed into their own subdirectories by this point.
Start MPLAB and select Install Language Tool under the Project menu. Select microEngineering Labs, Inc. as the Language Suite. Select the appropriate Tool Name (PicBasic or PicBasic Pro Compiler). Use the browse button to select PBC.EXE or PBP.EXE within the subdirectory where it was installed as the Executable. Select the Command-line radio button and click OK to finish up.
Installation of the compilers into MPLAB is now complete. You can now write, edit, simulate and program BASIC projects from within MPLAB.
To create a BASIC project within MPLAB, select New Project under the Project menu. Navigate to the subdirectory into which the PicBasic or PicBasic Pro Compiler was installed. The project and its associated files must exist in the compiler's subdirectory in order for all of the include files to be found. Enter a new project name such as BLINK.PJT and click OK. The Edit Project window should pop up.
Select the desired processor type using the Change button next to Development Mode.
Select microEngineering Labs, Inc. as the Language Tool Suite.
Click on the name of the project under Project Files and then click the Node Properties button. The Node Properties window should pop up.
Select the desired Language Tool for the project (PicBasic or PicBasic Pro Compiler). The rest of the defaults should be OK so click OK to exit.
Click the Add Node button to add your BASIC source file to the project, or click OK and File|New to begin a new source file.
That's all (!!!) there is to it. You can now select Make or Build to compile your program.
