How to type my code

[jewbilee]

My school just recently recieved our vex kits. Were trying to program the code now and we don't like the drag and drop functions. I prefer to type out the code as practice for programming. If anyone knows how to achieve this or any other program that we can use, please suggest. Thanks very much

And did search before asking

[thegathering]

You can actually use MPLabs (like the FRC teams) instead of EasyC for your vex code.

I remember that the option to manually type code in EasyC was very difficult to find.

[jewbilee]

could you tell me how to use MPLabs. I keep hearing that you need the C compiler or whatever but I can't find any information about setting it up. Were using the basic Vex Programming kit that you can buy, weve never been to an event so we dont have this cd i keep reading about.

[Mark McLeod]

If you aren't on an FRC team and want to use MPLAB/C on your Vex robot you can purchase the C-BOT-COMPILER here:
http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-downloads.shtml

[popnbrown]

Don't you just need MP LAB to write code? I believe thats the only program that we use, unless the vex kits use different files (not .hex) to run.

And to use MP LAB, u have to first create a Project. Then you have to add some kind of Library (I dont know what they use for Vex). Then you add your own source files which is the actual stuff that is going to run.

Sry for using all those pronouns and undescriptive words, its easier to just show someone than tell them.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by popnbrown

Don't you just need MP LAB to write code? I believe thats the only program that we use, unless the vex kits use different files (not .hex) to run.

MPLAB handles the compiler for you, but you must have it if you are programming in C on either the big or the small robots. The C compiler is installed as a separate software package, but is integrated seamlessly into the MPLAB environment. The compiler is necessary to produce the .hex file we download.
MPLAB by itself only comes with PIC Assembly.

[Nathan]

All I did was install EasyC that came with the Vex Programming Kit, and then linked MPLAB to the EasyC compiler. Just read the two following threads in order and you should be fine. You don't have to buy anything either...

http://www.vexfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=4
http://www.vexfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=31

I hope that helps,
Nathan

[Mark McLeod]

Good catch.
I overlooked that they already have the C compiler with EasyC.