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Accessing bits of variable, XC8

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camacho

New Member
Hi, lets say i want to access a variable bit by bit, for example, i set individual bits of a variable, and then do bitwise operations with whole variable, lets say shift the whole variable, or assign value of another variable to it etc . I read about accessing it bit-by-bit with structures, but it says nothing about manipulating a whole variable. In AVR basic i simply wrote "variable.x" to access an x bit of a variable. How can i do that in C (XC8) ?Thanks
 
Last edited:
You can use a union.
Code:
unsigned char temp;

struct tempbits{
    union{
        temp;
    };
    bit b0;
    bit b1;
    bit b2;
    bit b3;
    bit b4;
    bit b5;
    bit b6;
    bit b7;
};

Then use tempbits.b4=1; etc to access it.

Mike.
 
Thanks for pointing me to the right direction, i used folowing:

struct bitstructure{
unsigned int bit0:1;
unsigned int bit1:1;
unsigned int bit2:1;
unsigned int bit3:1;
unsigned int bit4:1;
unsigned int bit5:1;
unsigned int bit6:1;
unsigned int bit7:1;
};

union data{
unsigned int bytedata;
struct bitstructure bits;
}values;

values.bits.bit1 = 1; //writing to bits
values.bytedata = 255; //writing to whole variable
 
You do realize that an int is 16 bits. Use unsigned char for an 8 bit byte. Also, XC8 supports the bit date type.

Mike.
 
He is correct Mike...

Bits are define like this...
C:
typedef union{
  struct{
    unsigned b0:1;
    unsigned b1:1;
    unsigned b2:1;
    unsigned b3:1;
    unsigned b4:1;
    unsigned b5:1;
    unsigned b6:1;
    unsigned b7:1;
   };
}tempbits;
 
based on the info above I have done the following

Code:
bool a;
bool b;
bool c;
bool d;
bool e;
bool f;
bool g;
bool h;

typedef union
{
struct
{
a b0;
b b1;
c b2;
d b3;
e b4;
f b5;
g b6;
h b7;
};
}status;

what I am trying to do is change/check individual bits to monitor various operational status i.e. if a=true do..... or if operation is done d=false.

but when I compile I get errors on the bit definitions. a b0, b1.....

I am also declaring this in a header file if that makes a diff.
 
Last edited:
I made the change and I am still getting "error: (314) ";" expected" for all the bit definitions when I try to build

Code:
typedef union
{
struct
{
a b0:1;
b b1:1;
c b2:1;
d b3:1;
e b4:1;
f b5:1;
g b6:1;
h b7:1;
};
}status;
 
Try this
C:
typedef unsigned char bool;

typedef union
  {
  struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }status;

Because a~ h are already declared variables you cannot use them in that way..
 
Now I am getting an error for the "status" declaration.
I have tried
Code:
uint8_t status;
typedef unsigned char bool;

typedef union
  {
  struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }status;

I have tried
Code:
typedef unsigned char bool;

typedef union
  {
uint8_t status;
   struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }status;

And
Code:
typedef unsigned char bool;

typedef union
  {
  struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }uint8_t status;

and I get a error for status.a~g:
error: (193) not a variable identifier "status"
error: (196) struct/union required

in my source code I have:
Code:
if (status.a != true)status.a = true;
but when I build I get the above errors any place that I use the bitwise "status.a~h"
 
Last edited:
You are using the type and not the variable...

Let me explain

typedef makes a new type!! It doesn't make a variable..

look here...

unsigned char avariable; // this makes a memory location called avariable... avariable = 0~255!!
typedef unsinged char avariabletype; //this makes a copy of the type.. avariabletype = unsigned char!!

so you use it like this :-
C:
typedef unsigned char bool;

typedef union
  {
  struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }STATUS;

STATUS status;

STATUS is the new type and status is the variable... You could just get rid of the typedef and use it how you think it should go:-
C:
typedef unsigned char bool;

union
  {
  struct
     {
     bool a:1;
     bool b:1;
     bool c:1;
     bool d:1;
     bool e:1;
     bool f:1;
     bool g:1;
     bool h:1;
     };
  }status;
Now it is a variable...
 
Ian Rogers thanks for the explanation. This is my first attempt at this type of operation. I think removing the "typedef" will serve my purpose.
 
I ran into another issue, when I run the simulator (MPLab) and manipulate the bits the if (if (status.a == true) call function) statement doesn’t pick up the change. I setup a watch on “status” which shows the memory address but when I look @ the file register that address shows an I2C que function.

I guess my next question is can I assign the variable “status” to a specific address and if so how do I do that?
 
Whoops..... You have used my example to the letter!!!!

STATUS is already defined... Change it to...

MYSTATUS mystatus;

Anywho!!

You can tell the compiler to use a bank variable by:-

volatile MYSTATUS mystatus @ 0x30; // or wherever!!
 
I used your example above and removed the "typedef" so I am unclear as to status already defined.
STATUS is already defined... Change it to...

MYSTATUS mystatus;

You can tell the compiler to use a bank variable by:-

volatile MYSTATUS mystatus @ 0x30; // or wherever!!
 
I used your example above and removed the "typedef" so I am unclear as to status already defined

As in, There is already a STATUS register... Its defined within the header for that chip ( well every chip really )..
 
I was using "status" as an example. I have defined it as timestatus in my code. If I am understanding you correctly I should use your first example and then declare it as volatile?
 
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