An Introduction to Real PIC Simulator

[Enamul]

Hi Guys,
I was recently motivated by Martin to use Real PIC Simulator to simulates your program just before testing in real hardware and debug your code. It's seems really handy and cheap software although Flowcode can simulate most of the features of hundreds of PICs...But this one can simulate has something like DS1307, Function Generator & Oscilloscope which is an add-on facility with the great piece of software (FC). Martin said he will post a tutorial for Real PIC..I though let's make a start where Martin could add his experience..
First of all, you can get a 30 days limited full-functional version for download...
http://digitalelectrosoft.com/download-pic-simulator
I will try to post in this post how to use different module one by one....Let's start with LCD.
LCD:
Chip selection: You have to select chip first which one you are going to use because you can change chip after dragging visual icons in the visual tab...

Menu.png

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Visual Panel:Drag LCD to put it in panel. If you left click on the white square on the top right corner of LCD icon, LCD color and LCD type menu will come up where you can select LCD color(optional) and LCD type (important)...In this example, I am using 2*16 LCD...Now let's see how to connect LCD for simulation.
Connection:Connected to PORTB (0:5) in FC
FC uses last 4 pin of data bus DB4:DB7(4-bit data transfer) which to be connected in RB0:RB3
RS>RB4
R/W>GND
E>RB5
So, this is the important bit of this post...

LCD_blank.png

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You can see in the picture RS R/W E D0 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7....all are N/A
Left click on N/A a menu will pop-up where you will get Pin select>ports, Vdd, Vss, GND, None
So for RS select PORTB<4>, for R/W select Vss, for E select PORTB<5>, for D0-D3 select "None" so that None will be shown in place of N/A, for D4 select PORTB<0>, for D5 select PORTB<1>, for D6 select PORTB<2>, for D7 select PORTB<3>
It should look like the LCD picture...

LCD.png

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Connection is done!!
Now, click the x sign below the file, you will be able to load the hex file generated from Flowcode.before clicking run check the clock of chip in FC and REAL PIC, and set simulation speed as clock speed to get real time result...
You are done..
Enamul

[JohnCrow]

Its a nice little program & good value for money.
Like you, I was also put onto it by Martin.

[medelec35]

Hi Enamul,
Thanks for posting useful information about Real Pic Simulator. Full version (at the time of writing) costs $29 = £18.52 = 23.45 euros

I would like to suggest some tips.

1) if you would like to quickly connect D4 to D7 to say RB0 to RB3 then just connect D4 to RB0 then go back to D4 and select 'Next Follows up'
then RB1 to RB3 will have the pins assigned automatically.
The same method can apply to assigning LED component to all pins instantly.

2)Right double click on a tab (in this case Memory Map) to make it go into other view.
In Flowcode, after compiling to hex just View ASM.
That will give addresses in Hex for each variable.
They will all precede with

Code: Select all

gbl_FCV_

Plus will be all in upper case. For example a variable called Water_Temperature
in a Flowchart I developed in asm listing looks like this:

Code: Select all

gbl_FCV_WATER_TEMPERATURE        EQU	0x0000004A ; bytes:1

So from that I can tell the address where contents of Water_Temperature is at 0x4A = Hex 4A
You will need to stop simulator for variables to be updated.

RPS1.png

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As you can see from screen shot contents of 0x4A is dec 44
So Water_Temperature = 44 deg C

3) Pot settings:
Since pot shows 0 to 1023, If you want to convert to a byte equivalent e.g pot is showing 685 then calculate ratio:
686/1023*255 = byte equivalent = about 171


I will leave you to post about other components

Martin

[Enamul]

Hi,
This post is about how to use keypad with LCD..
KEYPAD:
The component simulates a 4x4 button keypad.

KEYPAD.png

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From the components settings menu in the title bar, the user is able to select it if the columns or the rows are used as outputs when scanning the keypad.
Also he can select the default state of the inputs. This is the inputs state when no key is pressed. Inputs have pull-down resistor means that the inputs will stay in logic "0" in default state and in logic "1" if inputs having pull-up resistor are selected.

The connections can be made by clicking on the buttons in the bottom and in the right side of the component.
For EB0014 E-block Keypad, columns are output and inputs have 100K pull-down resistor which the default setting of Real PIC simulator as well. In Flowcode, we can change default keypad 4*3 to 3*3 or 4*4 type which is also supported by Real PIC.

I am showing here 4*3 and 4*4 types..
4*3:
For 4*3 you have to leave last column connected to None but all the rows will be connected. In this example columns are connected from RC0 to RC2 and rows are connected from RC4 to RC7. This will look like following..

KEYPAD_CONNECTION.png

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KEYPAD_4_3.fcf

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4*4:
For 4*4 you have to use all columns and all row connected. In this example columns are connected from RC0 to RC3 and rows are connected from RC4 to RC7. This will look like following..

KEYPAD_4_4.png

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KEYPAD_4_4.fcf

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So this examples are valid for EB0014 keypad but if you make your own keypad where rows are output you have to change that properties of keypad in Real pic in direction option by clicking white square in top right corner..you can change default input state to "input have pull-up resistor" if you have made your hardware like that..
Enamul

[Enamul]

Hi,
Here is a very important tool for PIC users who are dealing with PWM but don't have any scope in hand right now . Don't worry you can almost see the hardware environment using virtual oscilloscope in Real Pic simulator and another good thing is that if you want to simulate TMR0 or TMR1 with external clock but don't have that facility in FC yet..you can use function generator with lots of features..
Oscilloscope:
This component simulates a virtual oscilloscope. It can be used for digital pins only, it will simulate 1 and 0 state of the pin. It does not simulate analog voltage level for analog pins. Every channel has a button for choosing the sampled pin and the channel's color.

scope.PNG

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The time base(time/div)represents the time between two vertical dotted lines of the oscilloscope's display. It can be changed by dragging the slider and by selecting the multiplier (x1, x10, x100 etc.). The time base is affected by the "Real speed" but not by the "Simulation speed". The trigger, when active can be set to rising or falling signal of the selected channel.
You can easily calculate the frequency you are getting from pic using the time/div and period of the signal which is quite handy in debugging your code. This is also true for buzzer frequency checking.
Function Generator:
The function generator is used to add a stimulus to input pins of the PIC. Up to 8 channels can be used, each channel is connected to one input pin. The number of channels and the number of bits are selected from the component's menu.

FG.PNG

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The bit time is the time amount the component will hold a bit. One bit is marked between two vertical lines. The bit time can be changed by dragging the track bar and by selecting a multiplier (x1,x10,x100...).

The user can change the bits at any time by clicking with the mouse. This will toggle the bit state. The bits are generated from left to the right and cycled. After the last bit (in the right) is generated, the component jumps to the first bit.

The component also supports pause function. When paused, it does not generate signals and "One shot" is active. If "One shot" is pressed an entire cycle is generated, all bits from left to right.
Here I am attaching one simple program in FCV5 where the RB4 is used as PORTB change-on interrupt to read the change status of RB4 where a square wave signal generator is connected and I have sent the signal to PORTC<0> which is viewed in a scope to demonstrate the use of FG and Scope..

Osc_Function_Gen.fcf

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I am attaching here another example of using external clock source by function generator for an RTC example. In the example program, the crystal frequency between RC0 & RC1 pin should be 32.768KHz. So the bit time will be (1/32768)/2 Sec= 15.26 uS. User can set the starting time using the buttons connected to RD<0> UP, RD<1> DOWN, RD<2> SET & RD<3> CANCEL.
PushButton:
I feel I should talk a bit about PushButton here..This is normally momentary toggle switch in FC which can be used in either active high ("Normal=0 Pressed=1") or active low("Normal=1 Pressed=0") mode. But you can use that as latched toggle switch as well. It allows the user to change the state of an input pin to 1 or to 0 by pressing a button.

PB.PNG

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When the user left-clicks on the button, it is pressed until the mouse button is released. By right-clicking on the button, the component acts as a "push-push" button, the button is pressed and kept down until the user clicks again on it.

PP_BUTTON.PNG

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The input pin that the buton is connected to can be selected from the component's settings menu at the top.
The "Type" setting sets the default state of the pin when the button is pressed or released."Normal=1 Pressed=0" means the input has the value 1 when the button is not pressed and 0 when pressed.

RTC_TMR1.fcf

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RTC.PNG

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Hope this will help
Enamul

[raf]

Halo

i keep having problemes connectien the lcd module onto the real pic simulator
the program is easy

Code: Select all

Device 16F628A                ;We gebruiken een 16F628A type
Config INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT, WDT_OFF, PWRTE_ON, LVP_OFF, MCLRE_OFF
All_Digital TRUE              ;Alle ingangen digitaal
Xtal = 4
PORTA = %00000000
TRISA = %00000000
PORTB = %00000000
TRISB = %00000000



Symbol Tijd = 1000            ;Tekst veranderen om de 3 seconden 

DelayMS 500                   ;LCD stabilisering

While 1 = 1                   ;Oneindig blijven doorgaan 
  Cls                         ;Wis oude tekst uit 
  Print "Hallo."              ;Zet tekst op het scherm 
  DelayMS Tijd                ;Tijd om tekst te laten zien 

  Cls
  Print  "Tekst op een LCD"
  DelayMS Tijd

  Cls
  Print "Met PIC-Basic!"
  DelayMS Tijd

  Cls
  Print "Eenvoudig toch?"
  DelayMS Tijd

  Cls
  DelayMS Tijd                ;Tijd om LEEG scherm te laten zien 
Wend                          ;Terug naar WHILE

End                           ;Einde programma

But the first Hallo is ok but then i get rubbishe
the connections are
portb.3 for reset
portb.2 for E
r/w = vss
D4 = portb.4 and upwards till 7
and then if i run the program i get this
at the end the program should stop but the display keeps making strange pic's
I ad a video
https://youtu.be/H6wfcgOr4jk

some one an idea what is wrong
or what i ame doing wrong
regards raf

[Benj]

Hello Raf,

What if you add an infinite loop at the end of your program, this way the code cannot run into uninitialised memory.

[raf]

Hallo Benj
i dit that but that was no sollution
i cant get the text on the line 2

Code: Select all

Device 16F628A                ;We gebruiken een 16F628A type
Config INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT, WDT_OFF, PWRTE_ON, LVP_OFF, MCLRE_OFF
Declare All_Digital TRUE              ;Alle ingangen digitaal
Xtal = 4
Declare PortB_Pullups On              ;On-chip pull-up weerstanden actief
PORTA = %00000000
TRISA = %00000000
PORTB = %00000000
TRISB = %00000000

Clear                         ;Wis alle RAM geheugen
DelayMS 500                   ;LCD stabilisering 

While 1 = 1
Print At 1,1," hallo"
Print At 2,1, "world"
Wend

a constant loop should print hallo at line 1 and wordl at line 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yYt4kQ ... e=youtu.be
this is the result
the programmer is proton ide
the strange thing is that the code works in the real world but not in real pic simulator
and i have a few people whom like to start with programming pic's
but if this problem is not solved they have a problem
because they dont have programmer's yet and would like to learn programming in proton first
regards raf

[viki2000]

Maybe is good to know about another simulator, with more PICs, also acceptable as price:
http://www.oshonsoft.com/licenses.php?type=pers

[raf]

???? whats the point of buying an other one
this one should do what it is supposed to do
its like buying a new car because the gas tank is empty
if you buy a car you expect it to run like it should without a problem
if a problem occures then you go to the garage shop and they fix the problem
the are not trying to sell you a new car

regards raf

[Benj]

the strange thing is that the code works in the real world but not in real pic simulator

Sounds like you maybe need to let the Real PIC Simulator devs know of the problem so they can fix it.

[raf]

send an email to the devs
looking what the options are going to be

regards raf and thanks

[viki2000]

raf,
you know why you have to buy a new car?
Because your “smart car” is small and you cannot drive it on long way/run no matter how many times you fill up the tank and you just notice has not too many options that you might need and the guys from garage cannot upgrade it for you.
I think is a fair reason.
If you are a single guy that drives around the town, then stay your or “smart” or “mini”, but if you intend to see the world and go further, then is time to think at new car.
Fair enough?
Here are the RealPic Simulator PICs (at bottom) – I would say not too many:
https://digitalelectrosoft.com/pic-simulator

Supported PIC microcontrollers

Baseline:
10F200 10F202 10F204 10F206 10F220 10F222 12F508 12F509 12F510 12F519 16F505 16F506 16F526 16F54 16F57 16F59
Total: 16
Mid-range:
12F609 12F615 12F629 12F635 12F675 12F683 16F610 16F616 16F627 16F627A 16F628 16F628A 16F630 16F631 16F636 16F639 16F648A 16F676 16F677 16F684 16F685 16F687 16F688 16F689 16F690 16F716 16F72 16F722 16F723 16F724 16F726 16F727 16F73 16F737 16F74 16F747 16F76 16F767 16F77 16F777 16F785 16F818 16F819 16F83 16F84 16F84A 16F87 16F870 16F871 16F872 16F873 16F873A 16F874 16F874A 16F876 16F876A 16F877 16F877A 16F88 16F882 16F883 16F884 16F886 16F887 16F913 16F914 16F916 16F917 16F946
Total: 69
Simulated modules
• Timer0
• Timer1
• Timer2
• EEPROM read/write and FLASH read
• Interrupt-on-change
• External interrupt on INT pin
• CCP module
• ADC module
• UART module


And now the other one.
PIC10 Simulator IDE - http://www.oshonsoft.com/pic10.html :
IC10F200, PIC10F202, PIC10F204, PIC10F206, PIC10F220, PIC10F222, PIC12F508, PIC12F509, PIC12F510, PIC16F54, PIC16F57, PIC16F59, PIC16F505, PIC16F506.
PIC16 Simulator IDE - http://www.oshonsoft.com/pic16.html :
PIC12F1501, PIC12F1822, PIC12F1840, PIC12LF1552, PIC12LF1840T48A, PIC16F1454, PIC16F1455, PIC16F1459, PIC16F1503, PIC16F1507, PIC16F1508, PIC16F1509, PIC16F1512, PIC16F1513, PIC16F1516, PIC16F1517, PIC16F1518, PIC16F1519, PIC16F1526, PIC16F1527, PIC16F1704, PIC16F1708, PIC16F1782, PIC16F1783, PIC16F1784, PIC16F1786, PIC16F1787, PIC16F1788, PIC16F1789, PIC16F1823, PIC16F1824, PIC16F1825, PIC16F1826, PIC16F1827, PIC16F1828, PIC16F1829, PIC16F1847, PIC16F1933, PIC16F1934, PIC16F1936, PIC16F1937, PIC16F1938, PIC16F1939, PIC16F1946, PIC16F1947.
PIC18 Simulator IDE - http://www.oshonsoft.com/pic18.html :
PIC18F242, PIC18F248, PIC18F252, PIC18F258, PIC18F442, PIC18F448, PIC18F452, PIC18F458, PIC18F1220, PIC18F1230, PIC18F1320, PIC18F1330, PIC18F2220, PIC18F2221, PIC18F2320, PIC18F2321, PIC18F2331, PIC18F2410, PIC18F2420, PIC18F2423, PIC18F2431, PIC18F2455, PIC18F2458, PIC18F2480, PIC18F2510, PIC18F2515, PIC18F2520, PIC18F2523, PIC18F2525, PIC18F2550, PIC18F2553, PIC18F2580, PIC18F2585, PIC18F2610, PIC18F2620, PIC18F2680, PIC18F2682, PIC18F2685, PIC18F4220, PIC18F4221, PIC18F4320, PIC18F4321, PIC18F4331, PIC18F4410, PIC18F4420, PIC18F4423, PIC18F4431, PIC18F4455, PIC18F4458, PIC18F4480, PIC18F4510, PIC18F4515, PIC18F4520, PIC18F4523, PIC18F4525, PIC18F4550, PIC18F4553, PIC18F4580, PIC18F4585, PIC18F4610, PIC18F4620, PIC18F4680, PIC18F4682, PIC18F4685, PIC18F6520, PIC18F6525, PIC18F6527, PIC18F6585, PIC18F6620, PIC18F6621, PIC18F6622, PIC18F6627, PIC18F6680, PIC18F6720, PIC18F6722, PIC18F8520, PIC18F8525, PIC18F8527, PIC18F8585, PIC18F8620, PIC18F8621, PIC18F8622, PIC18F8627, PIC18F8680, PIC18F8720, PIC18F8722, PIC18F24J10, PIC18F24J11, PIC18F24J50, PIC18F25J10, PIC18F25J11, PIC18F25J50, PIC18F26J11, PIC18F26J13, PIC18F26J50, PIC18F26J53, PIC18F27J13, PIC18F27J53, PIC18F44J10, PIC18F44J11, PIC18F44J50, PIC18F45J10, PIC18F45J11, PIC18F45J50, PIC18F46J11, PIC18F46J13, PIC18F46J50, PIC18F46J53, PIC18F47J13, PIC18F47J53, PIC18F63J11, PIC18F64J11, PIC18F65J11, PIC18F65J50, PIC18F65J94, PIC18F66J50, PIC18F66J55, PIC18F66J60, PIC18F66J65, PIC18F66J94, PIC18F66J99, PIC18F67J50, PIC18F67J60, PIC18F67J94, PIC18F83J11, PIC18F84J11, PIC18F85J11, PIC18F85J50, PIC18F86J50, PIC18F86J55, PIC18F86J60, PIC18F86J65, PIC18F86J72, PIC18F87J50, PIC18F87J60, PIC18F87J72, PIC18F96J60, PIC18F96J65, PIC18F97J60, PIC18F13K22, PIC18F13K50, PIC18F14K22, PIC18F14K50, PIC18F23K20, PIC18F23K22, PIC18F24K20, PIC18F24K22, PIC18F24K50, PIC18F25K20, PIC18F25K22, PIC18F25K50, PIC18F25K80, PIC18F26K20, PIC18F26K22, PIC18F26K80, PIC18F43K20, PIC18F43K22, PIC18F44K20, PIC18F44K22, PIC18F45K20, PIC18F45K22, PIC18F45K50, PIC18F45K80, PIC18F46K20, PIC18F46K22, PIC18F46K80, PIC18F65K22, PIC18F65K80, PIC18F65K90, PIC18F66K22, PIC18F66K80, PIC18F66K90, PIC18F67K22, PIC18F67K90, PIC18F85K22, PIC18F85K90, PIC18F86K22, PIC18F86K90, PIC18F87K22, PIC18F87K90.

PIC Simulator IDE - http://www.oshonsoft.com/pic.html :
PIC10F320, PIC10F322, PIC12F609, PIC12F615, PIC12F617, PIC12F629, PIC12F635, PIC12F675, PIC12F683, PIC12F752, PIC16F72, PIC16F73, PIC16F74, PIC16F76, PIC16F77, PIC16F83, PIC16F84, PIC16F84A, PIC16F87, PIC16F88, PIC16F610, PIC16F616, PIC16F627, PIC16F627A, PIC16F628, PIC16F628A, PIC16F630, PIC16F631, PIC16F636, PIC16F639, PIC16F648A, PIC16F676, PIC16F677, PIC16F684, PIC16F685, PIC16F687, PIC16F688, PIC16F689, PIC16F690, PIC16F707, PIC16F716, PIC16F720, PIC16F721, PIC16F722, PIC16F722A, PIC16F723, PIC16F723A, PIC16F724, PIC16F726, PIC16F727, PIC16F737, PIC16F747, PIC16F753, PIC16F767, PIC16F777, PIC16F785, PIC16F818, PIC16F819, PIC16F870, PIC16F871, PIC16F872, PIC16F873, PIC16F873A, PIC16F874, PIC16F874A, PIC16F876, PIC16F876A, PIC16F877, PIC16F877A, PIC16F882, PIC16F883, PIC16F884, PIC16F886, PIC16F887, PIC16F913, PIC16F914, PIC16F916, PIC16F917, PIC16F946.

Take your pick!

[raf]

the pic's i use are the 16f628 and 16f628A the 12f629 16f887 and that is it
this is more than enough for all the projects i ame doing
i downloaded the pic simulator and i got an error when i loaded the hex file
so its possible that proton is corrupted to and i have to buy an other compiler

its like you car proposition
a new car but it is larger and cant get into the garrage
therfor i have to build an new garage but all the machinerie in the garage wont fit the new garage
so i have to buy an new wassing machine and an dryer and an boiler and alle the machinery is new
so i have to place new electricel wiring that has to be confirmt iff its safe to use
by an guy i have to pay to do this

its not whort the effort
and i go the next time by train or bus
or its less expensive to call a taxi (not in belgium i reccon)
regards raf

[raf]

solved the problem
i got an error in pic16 simulator ide and was looking for the reason
now i found that one of the ports could be wrong dimentiod

Rs portB.3
R/W on VDC
EN portB.2
D4 portB.4
D5 portB.5
etc.
all was right connected but keep having strange readings
the item is that RS must be set at acitve on 1
and En must set on active on 0
then all works fine without any extra's
so problem solved and thanks for the help
and i dont have to buy a new car becouse these one was just 2 years old
and its a clipper focus 1.1 eco so i have alot off space

regards raf