5.7.1.7 Dfp Option

The -mdfp=path option indicates that device-support for the target device (indicated by the -mprocessor option) should be obtained from the contents of the specified Device Family Pack (DFP), where path is the relevant path to the folder containing the xc32 directory within the DFP. For example, if the required DFP has been dowloaded and installed in the Microchip subdirectory, a build command utilizing that DFP might look like:

xc32-gcc -mprocessor=ATSAME54P20A
                                        -mdfp="Microchip/SAME54_DFP/3.9.244" main.c

The Microchip development environments automatically use this option to inform the compiler of which device-specific information to use.

If you are building on the command line or via a makefile, download the required DFP from packs.download.microchip.com. The .atpack file can be unarchived by many archive applications, but it is recommended that you use the Pack manager in the MPLAB X IDE. From within the IDE, open the Pack manager from the Tools > Packs menu, then from the Install or Uninstall drop down, select Install Pack From Local Source. Specify the path to where you save the DFP in the -mdfp option when you build your project.

A DFP might contain such items as device-specific header files, configuration bit data and libraries, letting you take advantage of features on new devices without you having to otherwise update the compiler. DFPs never contain executables or provide bug fixes or improvements to any existing tools or standard library functions.

If the -mprocessor option has been specified and the -mdfp option is missing or the compiler cannot find the spec file in the nominated DFP, an error will be generated. If neither the -mprocessor nor -mdfp options are provided, the compiler will run without attempting to get any information from a DFP.