C18 Compiler v.3.00 Problems

[prograid]

Does anyone know if the new C18 compiler from Microchip works with the default code? I installed it today (The upgrade to 3.00 works perfectly if you already have v. 2.40 or higher installed) and tried it out (along with MPLAB version 7.21 and my Eclipse plug-in.)

In MPLAB, I first got an error saying:
MPLINK 3.94, Linker
Copyright (c) 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
Error - Coff file 'C:FrcCode2005v2.4main.o' does not appear to be a valid COFF file.
Errors : 1

In Eclipse, I got an error saying:
MPLINK 4.00, Linker
Copyright (c) 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
Error - Coff file format for 'ifi_library.o' is out of date.
Error - Could not build member 'ifi_library.o' in library file '..FRC_Library.lib'.
Errors : 2
I then read some of the documentation and it said that you have to use MPLINK v. 4.00 with the new compiler. So I changed this MPLAB but I still got a similar error to Eclipse:
MPLINK 4.00, Linker
Copyright (c) 2005 Microchip Technology Inc.
Error - Coff file format for 'ifi_library.o' is out of date.
Error - Could not build member 'ifi_library.o' in library file 'C:FrcCode2005v2.4FRC_library.lib'.
Errors : 2

Is this error showing up because, the libraries provided with the default code only work with the old versions of the compiler, or is it something else?

[Mike Betts]

Originally Posted by prograid

...Is this error showing up because, the libraries provided with the default code only work with the old versions of the compiler, or is it something else?

I believe that the default librarys were compiled with the old compiler which is giving problems to the new linker.

If I were you, I'd ask IFI to recompile the libraries for you with the new compiler. If they say no, you are going to have to stay with V2.4 like the rest of us...

From the readme file of C18 compiler V3.00:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Important MPLINK and MPLAB IDE Compatibility Note
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Due to a change in COFF file format, MPLAB C18 v3.00 and later will
not be compatible with versions of MPLINK prior to v4.00 or
versions of the MPLAB IDE prior to v7.21.
MPLAB C18 v3.00 and later will have backward compatibility to earlier
versions at the source level only. Any existing object files or
libraries compiled with earlier versions of the tools will not link
using new versions of the tools. They will need to be recompiled
from source.

Regards,

Mike

[kc8nod]

I just posted this question on the ifirobotics forums. Stay tuned for an answer.

http://www.ifirobotics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=421

[CJO]

I posted a similar question on the vexlabs forum.

[kc8nod]

Looks like ifirobotics will not be updating the library. At least not the one from the old code. So for now we must use the old compiler.

http://www.ifirobotics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=523

Will they be upgrading to the 3.00 compiler for 2006? If so, I hope they make it known soon.

[BotLobsta]

Does anyone have the old compiler installer that they would like to provide since it is not available online anywhere?

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by BotLobsta

Does anyone have the old compiler installer that they would like to provide since it is not available online anywhere?

It's on the CD you got, if you didn't get the CD, contact FIRST. I'd post it, but A) they specifically asked us not to distribute it last year, and B) its a commerical product (which would make me posting it... illegal)