Package Manager

The Package Manager is a tool which enables users to integrate their own libraries in the mikroIDE.
Besides installing new libraries into the mikroIDE environment, the Package Manager can also make a redistributable archive with the goal to be installed on other computers.

1. What is a package ?
2. Creating a Package
3. Installing a Package
4. Editing Package
5. Managing Multiple Packages

What is a Package ?

A package is a redistributable archive file that is composed of one or more user files, designed for easier exchange, distribution and storage of multiple files. The file extension of the package is .mpkg.
Advantage of using one package file over a collection of files is obvious - no lost files, no files put in the wrong folder, no trouble about including library in the Project Manager, etc.

Creating a Package

From the main menu choose File -> New Package. At first, it is important to select the target compiler. List of available compilers is populated according to currently installed compilers.
Then, Package description should be populated with appropirate information, for example :

Adding Devices Definition Files

If user's package relies on devices which are not supported by mikroIDE, there is the option to add devices' definitions into the package.
A definition is added to the package in the following way :

1. Right click the node Definition files,
2. Choose Add Files,
3. Browse to folder where definitions files are,
4. Add as many definitions as you wish.

Upon installation of the package these definitions will be copied to a destination folder visible to mikroIDE. In this way the target compiler will be able to use new devices' definitions.
When adding new defintion files, make sure that all necessary files are included, i.e. *.mlk, *.c, *.mpas and *.mbas.

Adding Library Files

A library is added to the package in the following way :

1. Right click the node Libraries,
2. Choose Add Files,
3. Browse to folder where library sources and .mcl files are. You do not have to provide source files if you do not want to, but you must provide at least all .mcl files which make the library functional,
4. Add as many libraries as you wish.

Linking the library with the appropriate device

Click on a library will give the option to attach the library to a specific device. Check the devices which support given library.

As you can see, you may select devices by various criteria :

• "Select All" selects all devices located in the compiler definitions directory.
• "Deselect All" deselects all devices.
• "Select / Deselect device name containing" lets you filter devices by their names :
  

 

• "Select / Deselect device name that begins with..." lets you filter devices by beggining of their names :
  

 

• "Select / Deselect those having registers" lets you filter devices by device registers :
  

 

• "Select / Deselect by memory" lets you filter devices by program, RAM or EEPROM memory size :
  

 

• "Copy, Paste and Append from clipboard" lets you use values stored in the clipboard as a selection source.
• "Rebuild MCLs" rebuilds all MCU definition files.
• "Refresh list" refreshes list of available devices.

Adding Help File

A help file is added to the package in the following way :

1. Right click the node Help Files,
2. Choose Add Files,
3. Browse to folder where the help file is located,
4. Add as many files as you wish.

Adding Example Files

Example files are added to the package in the following way :

1. Right click the node Examples,
2. Choose Add Files,
3. Browse to folder where the example files are located,
4. Add as many files as you wish.

Saving a Package

Saving a package is performed by choosing File > Save Package :

Upon saving, a package name title is changed according to the saved name.

Installing a Package

Installing a package is performed in the following way :

1. Open the package,
2. From the File menu choose Install.

Upon the package installation, a log file will be opened, displaying the relevant information about the installation process :

The package is installed in the the Package directory of the compiler's installation folder, for example :
DriveName:\Program Files\Mikroelektronika\mikroC PRO for PIC\Package\Test_Package

Editing Package

Editing a package is performed in the following way :

1. Open the package, by choosing File -> Open,
2. Edit the package, ie. add/remove files, assign devices etc,
3. Save the package, by choosing File -> Save.
4. Close the package, by choosing File -> Close.

Managing Multiple Packages

Package Manager can also manage multiple files at once. Open the desired packages, and edit them easily one-by-one :