MPLAB® IPE Production Mode Settings
In the MPLAB® Integrated Programming Environment (IPE), users can change the Production ModeProduction Mode settings. This section focuses on how to change those settings and a detailed description of each setting.
Advanced Mode Settings
Before you can change any Production mode settings, you must first log in to the Advanced Mode. Refer to the Advanced Mode Login page for details on how to log in to Advanced mode. After the IPE validates the password to log in to the Advanced mode, the dialog opens in the Operate view option. This display is similar to the main display, with the addition of option buttons located along the left side of the window.
Displaying Production Mode Settings
From the Advanced Mode dialog on the left, click the Production Mode option button to display the available Production mode settings.
Note that the Production Mode option button now turns green and the Production Mode Setting options appear. The Production Mode Settings dialog enables authorized personnel to select the options that are available during production programming. The options that are selected in the Production Mode Settings determine which menu items will be available under the File, View, and Settings menus in the Production Mode.
Select the appropriate settings for your production programming project by checking or unchecking the settings. Selecting a check box in the Production Mode Settings dialog causes a checkmark to display in front of that option under the IPE Settings menu. A checkmark indicates that an option has been set in the Advanced mode. If the item is available and has a checkmark, then the production specialist can control this item by toggling it on or off. In the next section, we will examine individual setting options in detail.
Production Mode Settings Descriptions
The following table describes the Production mode settings:
Production Mode Settings | Setting Description |
| Allow Export Hex | Enables a production specialist to export Hex files If checked, this option displays under the File > Export menu. |
| Allow Import Hex file | Enables a production specialist to import Hex files. |
| Allow Import Environment | Enables a production specialist to import environments. If checked, this option displays under the File > Import menu. |
| Allow Import SQTP file | Enables a production specialist to import MPLAB IPE SQTP℠ files. If checked, this option displays under the File > Import menu. |
| Generate Reports | Enables reports to be generated. If Generate Reports is checked, click on Browse to set the location where the reports will be placed. |
| Limit the Program Count to | If selected, this option limits the pass, fail and total counts to the value that is entered into the associated field. This actually halts further programming operations from occurring. To clear the counts on the main window, click Reset Counters. |
| Allow “Verify Device ID before Program” under the Settings menu | Activates this option in the Settings menu and enables a production specialist to control this option. This setting is valid only for tools that are capable of performing this function, e.g., MPLAB PM3 Universal Device Programmer. |
| Allow Auto Download Firmware under the Settings menu | If selected, this option displays in the Settings menu and can be controlled by a production specialist. If it is not selected, the IPE automatically downloads the latest firmware for the tool, if needed. |
| Allow “Erase All before Program” under the Settings menu | If selected, this option displays in the Settings menu and can be controlled by a production specialist. If it is not selected, the production specialist cannot control this option from the Settings menu. |
| Allow “Communication” under the Settings menu | If selected, this option displays in the Settings menu and can be controlled by a production specialist. |
| Remove Read button from main window | If this option is selected, the Read button is removed from the main window. |
| Audible notification on successful program completion | If selected, this option generates a sound when programming successfully completes. |
| Allow memory editing and filling | Enables memory editing and filling of memory. If enabled, this option is accessed in Production Mode from the View > Fill Memory option. |
Allow Memory View | |
| Program Memory | If this option is selected, program memory can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. |
| Auxiliary Memory | If this option is selected, auxiliary memory can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. |
| Config Memory | If this option is selected, configuration memory can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. |
| Flash Data | If this option is selected, Flash memory can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. |
| User IDs | If this option is selected, user IDs can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. This is only applicable if user IDs are supported by the tool. |
| EEPROM | If this option is selected, EEPROM memory can be displayed in the Memory View pane on the main window. |