Pic Breakpoint (PB Mk1 V16) working with TOOLKIT TK3

Before using this software, do make sure you fully read the text published
in EPE November 2003 so that you understand what PB1 is intended
to do. Copies of the text are obtainable from EPE, contact details at the end
of this introduction. 

ENVIRONMENT
It is important to note that PB1 was written to run with TK3 V5.0 or later.
It will run on any Windows version that will run TK3 - please refer to the details accessible via the "About Toolkit" button on the main Toolkit screen.
PB1 will NOT work if the printer port on your PC is not bi-directional - i.e. verification is inhibited.

TOOLKIT PCBs
PB will run on either the EPE original or Magenta version of the Mark3 Toolkit PCBs, although both require modification. The modifications are straightforward and are described in the EPE article.
It is essential to test the modified PCB for correct normal operation with TK3 before attempting to use PB1

(If you have any queries or comments, or suggestions for how future versions could be enhanced, please let me know via the EPE Editorial Office.)

TROUBLESHOOTING
Every attempt has been made to trap error conditions. However some problems are impossible to detect owing to the nature of the facility.

1. A message on the PB screen will show
	"Testing <Program Name> on <Pic Type>"

The Program Name and the Pic Type are taken from data held by TK3 on its main screen. Normally the program will have been sent to the Pic as part of the usual Assemble/Send/Test cycle, and the Pic will have been specified in the LIST directive in the program. However the program named may not have actually been sent to the Pic, so the Pic will run a program previously sent, thus fooling PB1.
It is therefore sensible to check these aspects when your Pic program or PB1 does not behave as expexted.

2. Port switches are often used to allow the parallel port to be used by a number of tools. It is not uncommon to forget to switch the port correctly before running TK3 or PB1. Both TK3 and PB1 check that the port is functioning correctly before using it. However, PB1 cannot do so during a sequence of "Continue Runs". In this instance PB1 will wait for a Breakpoint, and after 5 seconds a message will appear giving advice on this situation. Usually it is best to end the run and start it again with the port switch in the correct position.

3. PB1 depends for its operation on accurate timing between the PC and the Pic development. Therefore PB1 should not be run on a PC which is simultaneously running other active programs, e.g. Web downloads, and although the author has not tried it, it seems doubtful that PB1 will work successfully with electronic port switches that allow "simultaneous" access from several different devices.

4. Remember, PB1 is being used to help the development of a Pic program, which, by definition, isn't working correctly yet!! So it may not be surprising that (for example) a Breakpoint isn't reached as planned. Your program may have overwritten system registers, gone into a loop or done any of the many things which make Pic programming such fun :-) When faced with this possible situation, put a few more Breakpoints in, at earlier locations in the code, and track the problem down that way.

Best of debugging luck

Richard Hinckley


COPYRIGHT (c) 2003
This Pic Breakpoint (PB1) software is the the intellectual property of Richard Hinckley. The EPE PIC Toolkit TK3 software is the intellectual copyright of John Becker, Technical Editor of Everyday Practical Electronics Magazine (EPE) - see TK3 About for full details.
PB1 may be freely copied and distributed on a non-commercial basis provided full
acknowledgement to Richard Hinckley and EPE are included as an integral part of it and of any documentation associated with it, including this copyright statement, and any changes you make to the program must be clearly stated as being of your making at the head of the PB1 Program file.

Commercial use of this software is expressly prohibited without the written
permission of Richard Hinckley and EPE.

Richard Hinckley
c/o Everyday Practical Electronics, Wimborne Publishing Ltd,
 408 Wimborne Road East, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9ND, UK.
 Tel: 01202 873872. Fax: 01202 874562.
 E-mail: editorial@epemag.wimborne.co.uk
 Web: http://www.epemag.wimborne.co.uk