Using TheIDE as a Cross Development Tool

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Create an empty package within MyApps

3. Create a macro file for the <name> package

4. Running the Cross-Compile

5. Adding Files and Spacers

6. Open File  or Open Edited Files Warning

7. Incorporation into TheIDE

1. Introduction

By turning off many of the features of TheIDE it can be used as a cross development tool which uses pre-defined external makefiles. This is especially useful when moving applications previously developed under other IDE's to TheIDE.

What follows is a description of how to use TheIDE with such external makefiles without having to edit such files. There may be other ways of achieving such tasks and it may be possible to utilities the existing comprehensive build features of TheIDE. However the aim was to minimize the effort of conversion in order to get a valid compilation.

It should be noted that the following will only work with versions of TheIDE from 602 onwards. This is because it requires additional standard library functions not implemented in previous versions.

2. Create an empty package within MyApps

Start TheIDE and create a new package.  Define the <name> of the package and select an 'empty' package.  Immediately the package has been created load and edit the <name>.upp file in the <name> directory using TheIDE.  If not already present add the lines:

Close and reopen the package.  This tests that the <name> package can be found and that the <name>.upp file is recognized and has the correct syntax.  Without the two lines above TheIDE will not find the package.

3. Create a macro file for the <name> package

With the <name> package open under TheIDE create a new file with the extension usc... I suggest macro.usc. This will be the macro file where all the work will be done. Create appropriate macros in this file  in the form of the examples below. This is using the ESC scripting language. Note the 'Execute' standard library function is required. This is only available in versions 602 onwards of TheIDE.

The first macro named 'MakeA' can be invoked by the 'Alt+A' keystrokes or by clicking the macro name. When invoked it calls the Execute standard function.  The parameter within this function is the full path name with its parameters for a command line application execution. You will need to incorporate your own command lines as appropriate for your cross development environment.

The above example is for the AVR cross development package WINAVR.  This utilities the mingw GCC compiler and other packages along with the mingw32-make utility.

Note that an explicit makefile has been defined and that an explicit directory has been named.  The reasons for this are twofold. Firstly, the IDE has as its 'root' directory 'MyApps' rather than the package directory when the command is executed.  Secondly the explicit directory naming results in the makefile not having to be edited.

Also for some of the above 'applications; to be found the 'autoexec.bat' file path and other environmental variable names have been set from the previous cross development application. This is not part of the function of TheIDE.

4. Running the Cross-Compile

The 'macro' menu item will appear sometime on the menu bar. You may have to close and reopen the package for it to appear for the first time. Click on 'macro' and then the required macro name to run it. Alternatively use the quick key, Alt+M in this case, if it has been defined. When selected the macro body will be executed which will in this case invoke the application make facility. Errors will be displayed in the bottom window. Any errors can be located by clicking the left mouse button on the error line as with the normal TheIDE operation.

5. Adding Files and Spacers

Files and spacers can be added in the normal way by clicking the right mouse button in the files window at the left side of the screen. These however will have no association with the external makefiles.

6. Open File  or Open Edited Files Warning

I am unsure of what will happen with open / edited files with the external makefiles. When the inbuilt 'build' is executed any open files are updated so that the changed will be compiled. This does not appear to be the case when the external makefile is used.  It is recommended that all edited files are written back prior to invoking the macro.

7. Incorporation into TheIDE

When more knowledge of TheIDE is known it may be possible to incorporate such external make facilities such as WINAVR into its standard build features. There are mechanisms to select other compiler builds but the extensive windows library will need to be uncoupled.  This however is a future project.

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