6.2.2 Import an Existing MPLAB IDE v8 Project

Select one of the following methods to import an MPLAB IDE v8 project into an MPLAB X IDE project.

  • Select File > Import > MPLAB IDE 8 Project
  • On the Start Page, click on the Learn & Discover or My MPLAB X IDE tab, Projects section, Import Legacy link.

When importing, note the following considerations:

MPLAB IDE v8 workspace settings not transferred

Settings that were saved in a workspace in MPLAB IDE v8 (such as tool settings) will not be transferred to the new MPLAB X IDE project. Refer to the MPLAB IDE v8 help for what is stored in a workspace (MPLAB IDE Reference>Operational Reference>Saved Information).

Project settings, such as compiler, linker, and assembler options, will be transferred to the new MPLAB X IDE project.

MPLAB IDE v8 project possible file changes

An MPLAB IDE v8 project using the “MPLAB C Compiler for PIC24 MCUs and dsPIC DSCs” (aka MPLAB C30) and a COFF debug file format may have changes.

  • The MPLAB X IDE project will be converted to the ELF/DWARF debug file format unless the project uses COFF libraries, in which case the project format will continue to be COFF.
  • MPLAB IDE v8 is case insensitive to file extensions such as .c and .C. However, MPLAB X IDE is case sensitive and associates .c to C code files and .C to C++ code files. Therefore, if you import an MPLAB IDE v8 project with C code specified as .C, MPLAB X IDE will rename the .C files to .c to avoid incorrect compiler behavior.

MPLAB IDE v8 project possible build changes

An MPLAB IDE v8 project imported into MPLAB X IDE may not build the same as the original project.

  • Do not use __FILE__, assert(), __TIME__, or __DATE__ in your project code or the build (and checksum) will be different.
  • An MPLAB IDE v8 project that uses logical subfolders will not have the same checksum when imported into MPLAB X IDE. To build with the same checksum, move the files in the logical subfolders into the main logical folder (i.e., Source Files, Header Files, etc.) and then import into MPLAB X IDE.

To remove a logical subfolder under Source Files:

  • Drag to files under Source Files.
  • Select the folder and hit the Delete key.
  • Alternately, you can right click on the folder and select Remove from Project to remove the folder from the project. But it exists on the PC, it will not be deleted.
Figure 6-3. Move Files and Delete Subfolder