I thought that the 16F777 was going to be > the winner, but it turns out that it isn't self programmable, so it's not > possible to put a bootloader in it. BTW with a bootloader, a program on the > part that accepts and writes other programs into the part's memory and > executes them, you don't need a real programmer anymore. I find them invaluable > for my development cycle. > Thank you for all your help. With regard to your mention of bootloaders. I've searched the PICLIST for references to this and actual code. Your web page http://www.finitesite.com/d3jsys/index.html#SOFTWARE references Wouter's wloader program http://www.voti.nl/wloader/ I like the documentation he has written, it seems pretty good. It is a very good discussion of the bootloader. Would this work with the 16F877A? Are there more recent or better bootloaders available? Thanks again, I'm learning a great deal from you. -- Bob Cochran Greenbelt, Maryland, USA http://greenbeltcomputer.biz/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.