PICKit 2Plus - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2018, 03:35:07 pm
content: PICKit 2PlusI am looking for folks willing to test PICKit 2Plus.PICKit 2Plus is a complete replacement for the existing PICKit 2 Graphical User Interface software but PICKit 2Plus supports programming the latest 8-bit microntrollers. This means... your old PICKit 2 will program the newer microcontrollers.PICKit 2Plus is intended to bridge the gap between being frustrated by finding 'that new chip is not supported by a Pickit2', having to buy a new PICKit3 and... having to use MPLAB-X. I think you can use your old PICKit2 buy using PICKit 2Plus.PICKit 2Plus software is NOT simply a hack but a new evolution of the software. Yes there is an updated database but the PICKit 2Plus software has been revised to support completely new/different methods of microcontroller programming. The PICKit 2Plus software also supports Windows 10. Testing has included Windows 10, 7 and XP.A short list of newer microcontollers supported is shown below:**PIC16F18313 0x00003066**PIC16F18323 0x00003067**PIC16F18324 0x0000303A**PIC16F18325 0x0000303E**PIC16F18326 0x000030A4**PIC16F18344 0x0000303B**PIC16F18345 0x0000303F**PIC16F18346 0x000030A5**PIC16F18854 0x0000306A**PIC16F18855 0x0000306C**PIC16F18856 0x00003070**PIC16F18857 0x00003074**PIC16F18875 0x0000306D**PIC16F18876 0x00003071**PIC16F18877 0x00003075**PIC16F19156 0x00003098**PIC16LF18313 0x00003068**PIC16LF18323 0x00003069**PIC16LF18324 0x0000303C**PIC16LF18325 0x00003040**PIC16LF18326 0x000030A6**PIC16LF18344 0x0000303D**PIC16LF18345 0x00003041**PIC16LF18346 0x000030A7**PIC16LF18854 0x0000306B**PIC16LF18855 0x0000306E**PIC16LF18856 0x00003072**PIC16LF18857 0x00003076**PIC16LF18875 0x0000306F**PIC16LF18876 0x00003073**PIC16LF18877 0x00003077**PIC18F24K42 0x00006CA0**PIC18F25K42 0x00006C80PICKit 3PlusI have the same functionality for the PICKit 3Plus. I have the code ready but I want to test the code base on the PICKit2, resolve any issues or 'give up' if this software does not work.So....In the context that you can use MPLAB-X with a host of programmers (Pks etc) - is this worthwhile? If you think so - then let me know.AnobiumP.S. I have a few friends test PICKIT2 Plus software. No issues reported - yet.P.P.S. This work has been in-conjuction with Norio Sasajima - seehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/pic16f18857-programming-with-pickit2/msg1408795/#msg1408795

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2018, 05:43:27 pm
content: Linux support? Specifically on non-x86 like Raspberry Pi where a good use case is when the target system is a distance from the workstation and is connected over the network?

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2018, 09:40:38 pm
content: @NiHaoMike Any variant for any operating system is possible based upon the Microchip programming protocols. Based on my experience - programming and SPI (with diags tools) with about 400 hours of time could do the task.PICKitPlus for PK2 and PK3 is a Windows Operating System solution. Tested and validated on XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10.

author: @rt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 10:48:00 am
content: HelloCan it tell you the silicon revision?My stand alone PicKit II software doesn’t seem to. It’s supposed to be the last two locations of program memory.

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 10:56:21 am
content: Silicon revision can be added to the user interface.If lots of folks want this capability then it can added.

author: technix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 06:31:00 pm
content: I am interested. I actually don't have a PICKit 2 yet but I am building my own now, cooking my own board in KiCad and putting in some optimizations (e.g. ever heard of AT24CM01?)

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 08:10:42 pm
content: If its been developed from the Microchip PICkit 2 application open source release, does it still honour theREVS: Ysetting in PICkit2.ini to turn on display of the silicon revision? (seehttp://www.microchip.com/forums/m216938.aspx)

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 09:18:30 pm
content: Let me investigate and report back.

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2018, 09:27:37 pm
content: Yes. A value is displayed but I need to verify that value is the revision value.If this is the correct value I will add to the user interface as permanent display.

author: pelule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 06:40:38 pm
content: Is PICKit 2Plus also useable with latest IDE revison of MPLAB v8.92?I have not yet upgraded to MPLAB-X to keep dev-tool compability of previous projects.BR/PeLuLe

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:06:14 pm
content: Is PICKit 2Plus also useable with latest IDE revison of MPLAB v8.92?Gosh.. there is a question a very long time since I used that software.If you can find the HEX file - you can use PICKit 2Plus.If MPLAB v8.92 used some fancy method driving the PICKit2 then you will be the first find out. :-)

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 07:09:05 pm
content: Testing Results.Testing is going well. A few typos fixed and silly errors fixed like ensuring support for Windows 7 does not write ini files to the programs directory.Still adding parts daily. The database of parts has not been formally managed for years, so, this is a task that just has to be done.Looking good.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 08:03:48 pm
content: Any plans for command line support? It doesn't need to be the full PK2CMD interface (though updating PK2CMD would be an excellent idea to support users with scripted batch programming needs), but it would be very helpful if it could be passed a hex file on the command line + an option for PIC type (in a range of formats including full part name, and with the leading 'PIC' stripped or replaced by a 'P' for non dsPIC parts), or PIC family to autodetect within + some options for target power, MCLR handling etc. + a switch to set the action required and whether or not to ask for user confirmation before performing the action, or confirmation of any errors, so it could easily be invoked as a MPLAB post-build step, or from a MAKE file if using a different IDE.P.S. please post an announcement to'PICKit 2 pages on microchip.com totally borked!' @Microchip forumwhere I preserved the PICkit 2 pages and other PICkit 2 file links when Microchip FUBARed their website back in 2014, and also one onRic's PicForumwouldn't go amiss.

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2018, 08:12:06 pm
content: We are in process of completion.We can currently support most of 10f, 12f and 16f and some 18f. This software is completely new. It supports Pk2 and Pk3 ;from the same software.Currently adding 16f and 18f newer families.This is being initially developed for Great Cow BASIC as was PICKit Plus. Great Cow BASIC has an IDE where you call the programmer via the command line... so, this software may work in terms of use.

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2018, 07:13:09 am
content: I have added the Silicon Revision to the standard display.Requested: I am adding direct access to the Logic Analyser and the USART tools. You will be able to access these directly without having to navigate through the GUI user interface.The wider testing has raised one or two minor issues with Windows 7 with respect to file system access control but I have resolved these issues in the builds after v4.61.0.16.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2018, 07:44:38 am
content: okay if i understand its a stand alone gui tool who can program without mplabi would like to test this sw and get rid of mplab, i have an pick kit 2 and 3 ... is there a download link somewhere ??

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2018, 06:39:32 am
content: Adding more parts daily.The parts database has not been maintained for years.Latest parts can be found here.https://github.com/Anobium/PICKit-Plus/blob/master/PICKitPlusDevices.txt

author: Wolfram
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2018, 09:50:18 pm
content: I would be interested in giving it a try. I have a Pickit 2 here and some PIC16F18313s to program so this sounds like a good tool for the job. I have used the standalone applications for both the Pickit 2 and 3 for a long time, but I always have trouble with their outdated device lists when programming newer devices.

author: Anobium
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2018, 07:03:09 pm
content: We have completed the development program. So, we believe the project is completed.So, drop me a PM and I will can sort.I will post more news on PICKit Plus once I have a moment and I am over the shock of the response from Microchip!