On Fri, Aug 27, 1999 at 08:18:51PM +0100, Steve Thackery wrote:
>
> Now I'm totally confused.  How can you use these math libraries when 32 bit
> data types are not supported?

In a similar manner to how a compiler can support other
higher-level data structures such as matricies without
having a corresponding data type; all access to the data
type simply goes through the library calls. Since the
PIC itself doesn't support floating point in hardare,
support for floating point has to be done in software. I
grabbed the demo copy and I found that, for example, the
fpm32.asm file contains the source code for a mechanism
to multiply two 32-bit floating point numbers each stored
in four 8-bit memory locations. This is more or less the
way that a compiler would have to do it anyway even if
floating point  was "supported" with an explicit data
type. I did not, however, note the presence of e.g.
higher-level transcendental functions and such, but I
could just have missed them. ;-)

> I'm a very distressed (and destitute) person at the moment!

Not to be unsympathetic (we've all made such mistakes),
but uChip does post a time-limited demo and the full
documentation for download. (Yeah, I know, everything is
easy in retrospect...)

> Incidentally, can anyone recommend a DECENT 'C' compiler that does the job
> properly and gives full 32-bit support in terms of data types and math
> functions?

Take a look at Hi-Tech C, it supports the 17Cxx series,
and 32 or 24-bit math; the manual is available on-line.
http://www.htsoft.com.

> Finally, a message for Microchip: if you're compiler really won't support
> 32-bit data types then I'm DEEPLY unimpressed!  Can I have my money
> back??????

I'm guessing that you'll want to contact
your local representatives on that one. Check
http://www.microchip.com/10/Sales/europe/England/index.htm

--Bob

--
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Bob Drzyzgula                             It's not a problem
bob@drzyzgula.org                until something bad happens
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