Overview

Many microcontrollers can be programmed with development programmers that interface directly with an integrated development environment like Microchip s MPLAB, via USB, serial or parallel ports. In production, devices are usually programmed with generic EPROM memory programmers and production programming equipment that includes testing of the programmed part at the extremes of the specified operating temperature and supply voltage range.

Programming memory devices often requires the data to be made available in a format that can be read by the programming equipment or software running on a host PC. Contract electronic manufacturers and semiconductor memory programming service companies usually require the data to be programmed in one of two standard formats, either Intel Hexadecimal Object File Format or Motorola S-record Format. The Microchip MPLAB Assembler has the option of exporting Intel HEX in 8-bit or 32-bit format.

Intel HEX files conform to a set format; the file is made up of records or groups of data, each record usually being on a separate line. Records always begin with the : which is called the record mark. Records are made up of fields; that is the data within the record is grouped according to its meaning.

The Record Length is 1 byte; therefore the maximum value is FF and the maximum number of bytes of data in the record is 255 bytes or 510 HEX digits. It is more usual to use 8-, 16- or 32-byte record lengths to make viewing and printing easier.