User manual

Emulator Function Summary
© 2008 Microchip Technology Inc. DS51616B-page 109
11.5.2 Settings Dialog, Configuration Tab
Configure emulator operation on this tab.
11.5.3 Settings Dialog, Trace Tab
Set up trace options on this tab.
For more information about trace, see either:
• Chapter 7. “Debug for 8- and 16-Bit Devices”
• Chapter 8. “Debug for 32-Bit Devices”
TABLE 11-9: CONFIGURATION ITEMS
Download Firmware Set up firmware download options.
Auto Download Latest
Firmware
Check to allow automatic download of the latest version of
firmware for the target device (recommended.)
Manual Download Manually select a firmware file to download to the target device.
Breakpoints Depending on your selected device, you may be able to use soft-
ware breakpoints. Review the text beneath each type of breakpoint
to determine which is best for your current needs.
Use Hardware
Breakpoints
This is the default/classic mode for breakpoint behavior.
Using hardware breakpoints means:
Number of breakpoints: limited
Breakpoints are written to debug registers
Time to set breakpoints: minimal
Skidding: yes
Use Software
Breakpoints
Using software breakpoints means:
Number of breakpoints: unlimited
Breakpoints are written to program memory
Time to set breakpoints: oscillator speed dependent – can take
minutes
Skidding: no
Note: Using software breakpoints for debug impacts device
endurance. Therefore, it is recommended that devices used in this
manner not be used as production parts.
TABLE 11-10: TRACE OPTIONS
Trace Buffer Size
Number of Lines The trace buffer for MPLAB IDE can hold up to 2GB of data. When
used with the emulator, each trace line requires 12 bytes of data.
Therefore, the buffer can contain a maximum of 165 million trace
lines.
Number of Bytes
(PIC32MX Devices)
The maximum size is 22M Bytes. The trace buffer size must be
divisible by 8.
Note: Due to the trace data compression scheme, one byte of
trace data may contain between one to seven trace lines.
PIC32MX Instruction Trace
Enable Trace If this item is visible, then your selected device supports this type
of trace. Use this checkbox to enable emulator trace. If this item is
not visible, see Section 11.3.12 “Build Options Dialog, Trace
Tab (Device Dependent)” to enable and set up trace.
Stall CPU When Trace
Buffer is Full
Use this checkbox to enable this feature. Set the size of the trace
buffer in the previous section of this dialog tab.
Start/Stop Triggers To use this feature, set and enable breakpoints in your code, and
then use this section to select breakpoints to start and/or stop
trace.