At 20:13 18/07/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi Les,
>
>I can certainly understand your frustration, it's probably something
>they've heard many times. The manual is not a guide to C or to the PIC. It
>is a manual for HiTech C for the pic, and it's pretty dry and aimed at
>someone who already knows C and already knows PICs.
>

Yes they have, it is an older style set-up (Sorrya about that Clyde), but
the manual has not changed it's form since the early days much (It has
gotten better, you should have seen some of the very early ones)

>It is a very professional product, so you should not give up. The code it
>generates is superior to the cheaper alternative. Far superior.
>
Agreed, I think that this person has been misinformed, but not mislead as
Hi-Tech is by far the better product (Just ask Andy!)


>I don't think they should change the manual, but it'd be great if they
>made a second manual, like "HiTech PIC C for Dummies" that used examples
>for beginners to get started. hint hint :-)
>
I have requested this several times, but I have found that there is more
than enough when you search through the code that is supplied. And one of
the good things is that ALL Hi-Tech compilers look and feel the same!
Some getting started stuff would be good, but just look at the number of
possible target variations that may have to be incured, nightmare on PCB!
I think that there may be some room for someone to sell a development board
with some C-for dummies


>There are examples for doing exactly what you want, they should have
>installed when you set up the compiler. Bit-banging serial output is
>there, and Clyde already pointed you how to alert printf where you want
>the data to go.
>
Yep, just direct the I/O the user will have to search for the puts and gets
thingo which is in the manual on customisation and serial ports etc. Also
have a look at the source code.

>I'd tell you, except I avoid printf because of the amount of codespace it
>uses.
>
Always when you see printf and floating point in a simple embbeded
processor one can assume that the programmer hasnot delbt with such before
(Not being nasty, just a general comment)


>Friendly regards,
>Bob
>
>

Dennis