PICAXE - Memory Full - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

GST_Nem · 19th January 2006, 06:11 PM

im writing a program using picaxe but ive got a problem, its too long!

i was wondering if there is a way to convert the program into assembler or if the 18x or 18a chips hold more memory than a normall 18? its about 363 lines (i have mabey 10 more to add). thanks alot.

**Nigel Goodwin** · 19th January 2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GST_Nem

im writing a program using picaxe but ive got a problem, its too long!

i was wondering if there is a way to convert the program into assembler or if the 18x or 18a chips hold more memory than a normall 18? its about 363 lines (i have mabey 10 more to add). thanks alot.

The PICAXE has very little memory space available because it's a BASIC interpreter, and holds it's tokenised program in the data EEPROM space, which has a maximum of 256 bytes in a PIC, and less in some.

Either shrink your program to make it fit, write it using a BASIC compiler and a normal PIC, or write it in assembler for a normal PIC.

evandude · 19th January 2006, 09:03 PM

just to add to what nigel said, you should realize that a normal PIC can hold typically 2000 lines of code at the very least, and 4K or 8K is not at all uncommon, and some of the fancier ones are far bigger...

The PICaxe is an interesting toy, but it's extremely limited and you're going to have to transition over to the real thing eventually if you want to do anything very advanced. even a BASIC compiler will allow you many times more code on the exact same PIC chip, compared to running the interpreted BASIC that the PICaxe uses.

GST_Nem · 19th January 2006, 09:31 PM

alright a basic compiler sounds good, where can i get one that works with the picaxe basic? coz my freind says its different somehow? im not sure... but could u guys point me in the right direction plz. also i know you can convert basic into assembler but u need a special picaxe programmer, so i cant do that, will i need any special hardware to compile the basic?

*edit
hmm i just re-read what u said and am i correct in thinking i will have to re-write everything again to suit a normall pic?

evandude · 19th January 2006, 10:08 PM

the PICaxe is nothing but a regular PIC that has been pre-programmed with their special firmware. If you want to use it as a normal PIC, you just need a normal programmer, which can be built or purchased cheaply.

There are a handful of BASIC compilers for the PIC, I can't suggest any particular one because I don't program in BASIC, I use C instead. If you choose to go the assembly route, then you can use MPLAB, which is made by the manufacturer, a complete development environment.

No matter what, you'll need to re-write stuff... but if you take the time to learn to do it in assembly, it will benefit you a lot more than using the PICaxe software, because assembly can be used on ALL the PICs available.

Pommie · 19th January 2006, 10:56 PM

Have a look Here and you will find a free basic (and C) compiler and manual. Have a play with it and see if you can convert your code.

Mike.

Screech · 20th January 2006, 05:14 AM

Get the 18x
It will allow around 600 basic lines of code.

Nice little toy :lol: .

GST_Nem · 20th January 2006, 10:23 AM

ok yeh thats alright i only need about 350-400 lines so i will get that thanks, to be hounest i spent ages making it and i really didnt want to re-write it all. i will try to leanr how to code in basic but that will take a long time. for the minute i will stick with picaxe. btw has anyone heasrd of piclogicator? ive read that it doesnt use special firmware but instead it works by converting a flowsheet into assembler.

**Nigel Goodwin** · 20th January 2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GST_Nem

btw has anyone heasrd of piclogicator? ive read that it doesnt use special firmware but instead it works by converting a flowsheet into assembler.

It's a crude way of writing simple programs, it tends to be used in schools (rather like the PICAXE).

GST_Nem · 20th January 2006, 10:26 AM

yeh well thats where i am now

i dont need anything more than that. it just seems that only 60 lines of code in a normall picaxe-18 is a bit of a waste of time. never mind, i will try to use basic in future.

**Nigel Goodwin** · 20th January 2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GST_Nem

yeh well thats where i am now

i dont need anything more than that. it just seems that only 60 lines of code in a normall picaxe-18 is a bit of a waste of time. never mind, i will try to use basic in future.

The PICAXE is quite an amazing device, but the small amount of data EEPROM makes it very limited - but for the price you can't go wrong!. Compare it to a BASIC STAMP, which is a very similar device, except it used external EEPROM instead (as some of the larger PICAXE's are now capable of).

andrew12345678 · 24th April 2006, 10:05 AM

Im new to PIC programming and im starting with the PICAXE, ive seen that table above before, but i dont know what the "+i2C" thing is about, anyone care to enlighten me?

**Nigel Goodwin** · 24th April 2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew12345678

Im new to PIC programming and im starting with the PICAXE, ive seen that table above before, but i dont know what the "+i2C" thing is about, anyone care to enlighten me?

I can't say I've ever looked, but I presume it means you can connect an external I2C EEPROM to increase the program storage space?.

Screech · 24th April 2006, 10:58 AM

i2c tutorial:

andrew12345678 · 24th April 2006, 11:02 AM

how would you do something like that?

As i said before, im new to the PICAXE and PIC's in general, i first used one 3 days ago at a school holiday program for year 11 and 12 students, we made an electronic dice using PICAXE.

I made a PICAXE programmer the next day (at home) and im now going to start experimenting with the PICAXE system. Ive already run into memory issues since im running Picaxe 08 system but that may be due to my codeing technique (or lack thereof)

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19th January 2006, 06:11 PM	(permalink)
GST_Nem	PICAXE - Memory Full im writing a program using picaxe but ive got a problem, its too long! i was wondering if there is a way to convert the program into assembler or if the 18x or 18a chips hold more memory than a normall 18? its about 363 lines (i have mabey 10 more to add). thanks alot.

19th January 2006, 09:03 PM	(permalink)
evandude	just to add to what nigel said, you should realize that a normal PIC can hold typically 2000 lines of code at the very least, and 4K or 8K is not at all uncommon, and some of the fancier ones are far bigger... The PICaxe is an interesting toy, but it's extremely limited and you're going to have to transition over to the real thing eventually if you want to do anything very advanced. even a BASIC compiler will allow you many times more code on the exact same PIC chip, compared to running the interpreted BASIC that the PICaxe uses. __________________ EEgeek.net

19th January 2006, 09:31 PM	(permalink)
GST_Nem	alright a basic compiler sounds good, where can i get one that works with the picaxe basic? coz my freind says its different somehow? im not sure... but could u guys point me in the right direction plz. also i know you can convert basic into assembler but u need a special picaxe programmer, so i cant do that, will i need any special hardware to compile the basic? *edit hmm i just re-read what u said and am i correct in thinking i will have to re-write everything again to suit a normall pic?

19th January 2006, 10:08 PM	(permalink)
evandude	the PICaxe is nothing but a regular PIC that has been pre-programmed with their special firmware. If you want to use it as a normal PIC, you just need a normal programmer, which can be built or purchased cheaply. There are a handful of BASIC compilers for the PIC, I can't suggest any particular one because I don't program in BASIC, I use C instead. If you choose to go the assembly route, then you can use MPLAB, which is made by the manufacturer, a complete development environment. No matter what, you'll need to re-write stuff... but if you take the time to learn to do it in assembly, it will benefit you a lot more than using the PICaxe software, because assembly can be used on ALL the PICs available. __________________ EEgeek.net

19th January 2006, 10:56 PM	(permalink)
Pommie	Have a look Here and you will find a free basic (and C) compiler and manual. Have a play with it and see if you can convert your code. Mike.

20th January 2006, 10:23 AM	(permalink)
GST_Nem	ok yeh thats alright i only need about 350-400 lines so i will get that thanks, to be hounest i spent ages making it and i really didnt want to re-write it all. i will try to leanr how to code in basic but that will take a long time. for the minute i will stick with picaxe. btw has anyone heasrd of piclogicator? ive read that it doesnt use special firmware but instead it works by converting a flowsheet into assembler.

20th January 2006, 10:26 AM	(permalink)
GST_Nem	yeh well thats where i am now i dont need anything more than that. it just seems that only 60 lines of code in a normall picaxe-18 is a bit of a waste of time. never mind, i will try to use basic in future.

24th April 2006, 10:05 AM	(permalink)
andrew12345678	Im new to PIC programming and im starting with the PICAXE, ive seen that table above before, but i dont know what the "+i2C" thing is about, anyone care to enlighten me? __________________ "The glass is neither half-empty, nor half full, it's just twice as big as it needs to be" - Unknown

24th April 2006, 11:02 AM	(permalink)
andrew12345678	how would you do something like that? As i said before, im new to the PICAXE and PIC's in general, i first used one 3 days ago at a school holiday program for year 11 and 12 students, we made an electronic dice using PICAXE. I made a PICAXE programmer the next day (at home) and im now going to start experimenting with the PICAXE system. Ive already run into memory issues since im running Picaxe 08 system but that may be due to my codeing technique (or lack thereof)