At 11:43 PM 8/27/99 +0100, you wrote:
>Many thanks to you all for such a fast and helpful response.
>
>It seems unanimous - I need Hi-Tech PIC C.
>
>I've written to Clyde Smith-Stubbs separately, but I was wondering if any of
>you have experience of using the Hi-Tech compiler from within MPLAB.
>
<snip>
>
>Steve
>
>Steve Thackery
>Suffolk, England.
>Web Site: http://www.btinternet.com/~stevethack/
>
>
Steve,

I use the Hi-Tech compiler about equally inside and outside MPLAB. When
debugging I remain inside MPLAB (for the most part). I don't have much
choice as I am using a PicMaster. I prefer to use my own editor in a DOS
environment when writing code. I use Borland MAKE with the command-line
driven Hi-Tech compiler to compile and link in DOS. Once I think I'm ready
to make it work I move to MPLAB. The latest version of the Hi-Tech compiler
(7.84) and MPLAB 4.12 get along pretty well.

Another alternative you didn't mention is the Hi-Tech IDE HPDPIC.  The
advantage of the HPDPIC is that it knows a lot about the necessary compiler
and linker switches. I have used it simply to get all the modules compiled
and linked. Once this is done I can figure out what switches are necessary,
then incorporate them into Borland MAKE and MPLAB. For me, MAKE is a
necessary evil - it's a bear to set up, but once done you never have to
think about it again. (Until the next time...).

Another advantage of MAKE is that the makefile documents exactly how the
project goes together. It documents all the source files necessary, all the
switches, all the linker switches, libraries, etc. Three years from now you
can open the project directory, type MAKE -B and rebuild the entire
project.  Of course, the MPLAB project file does the same thing in the
windows environment.

Make sure you set up the "Path" in your MPLAB project to point to all your
.h files - otherwise MAKE will re-build every module every time. (Thanks
again to whomever first posted that tip on the list!)

Regards,

Jim Ham
Jim Ham, Porcine Associates
(650)326-2669 fax(650)326-1071
"http://www.porcine.com"