Introduction to Programming Microcontrollers with Flowcode V5

Watch the Video Tutorial

The aim of this course is to teach you how to develop microcontroller based electronic systems using Flowcode.
No prior  knowledge of programming is required to start this course but a basic knowledge of PIC microcontrollers is necessary.
By completing this course you will be able to program not only simple projects like flashing an LED but also complex projects involving LCD displays, analogue sensors, SD cards, Real time clocks, RS232/RS485, GPS, GSM, Bluetooth…   

What is Flowcode

There are already many compilers out there to program PIC microcontrollers in many languages like C and Basic but why use Flowcode?
Flowcode is one of the World’s most advanced graphical programming languages for microcontrollers.
Flowcode allows you to create microcontroller applications by just dragging and dropping icons on to a flowchart to create programs. 
These programs can control external devices attached to the microcontroller such as LED’s, LCD or read external devices connected to the microcontroller such as switches, keypad etc.
Once you have designed your flowchart, you can simulate your project to see how it will behave once compiled and transferred to a PIC.

Advantages of Flowcode

• The great advantage of Flowcode is that it allows those with very little experience in programming to create complex electronic systems in minutes.
• Easy to use interface Simply drag and drop icons on-screen to create an electronic system without writing traditional code line by line
• Fast and flexible Flowcode has a host of high level component subroutines which means rapid system development and easy to interface to external peripherals.
• What you design and simulate on screen is the result you get when you download to your microcontroller, so no error is expected.
• Flowcode allows you to view C and Assembly code for all programs created and customize them, this can also be great for somebody who is learning C or assembly programming.

Programming homework help

Features of Flowcode

• Flowcode supports a wide range of microcontrollers: PIC10, 12, 16, 18, dsPIC, PIC24 series, Atmel AVR, Atmel ARM by using different version of flowcode.
• A wide range of communication systems by just a simple drag and drop icons on the screen: Bluetooth, CAN, FAT, GPS, GSM, I2C, IrDA, LIN, MIDI, One wire, RC5, RF, RFID, RS232, RS485, SPI, TCP/IP, USB, Wireless LAN, Zigbee.
• Supported components Analog to Digital Converters, LEDs, switches, keypads, LCDs, Graphical colour LCD, Graphical mono LCDs, Sensors, 7-segment displays, Internal EEPROM, comms systems, Touchscreen LCD, Webserver. Supported mechatronics Accelerometer, PWM, Servo, Stepper, Speech.
• Panel designer of your choice on-screen and simulate it and many more.

Versions of Flowcode v5

	Free Version	Home Version	Flowcode Pro	Flowcode 10 concurrent users	Flowcode 50 concurrent users	Annual student rental
Unlimited icons	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Code size limit	2Kb	4Kb	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
All devices	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
All components	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
In Circuit Debug	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Virtual networks	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Code customization	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Licence for commercial use	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Multi-user licence for education	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No

You can buy Flowcode or download a free version at Matrix Technology Solutions website. 

Watch the Video Tutorial

Starting a new Flowcode Project

To start a new Flowcode project, depending on your operating systems,

• Start —–> All Program ——> Flowcode V5 ——-> PICmicro ——-> Flowcode V5 for PICmicros or
• Double click on Flowcode V5 icon on the desktop.

Figure 1: Select/Create a Project

• Tick on Create a new Flowcode flowchart then OK to start a new project or
• Tick on Open an existing Flowcode flowchart the OK to open an existing project.

Figure 2: Select a Microcontroller

• Select the PIC microcontroller you are going to use for this project. Click on 10/12 to select in PIC10 or PIC12 family, 16 family or 18 family.
• Click the Project description Tab to give your project a title and a short description (Optional).
• General Options Tab: here you can select the clock speed of your project in Hz. Type in 4000000 (4MHz) and select simulation speed of  “As fast as possible”. Click Ok to proceed.

Figure 3: Flowcode Overview

(1) represents the main flowchart window, all the flowchart icons are displayed in this window.

When you open a new project, The BEGIN and END icons are inserted by default.
To insert an icon, just drag and drop an icon from the Icons toolbar (2) onto the main flowchart window.
Hover your mouse over the icons to see the name and a short description of that icon.

Figure 4: Inserting Code Icons

The toolbar (3) displays the external components that can be connected to a microcontroller and panel drawing commands. The components are grouped in different categories that appear as drop down menus.
Click on a component and it will be added to the microcontroller and appear on the panel.
The pin connections and properties of the component can then be edited in the properties pane (5).

Figure 5: Flowcode Toolbar

All selected components appear on the panel below the main flowchart.

Figure 6: Flowcode Simulation Panel

Here are the components available in Flowcode V5:

Figure 7: Flowcode V5 Components

The current microcontroller chip is displayed in the microcontroller window (4). When you start simulating the program, the state of the microcontroller I/O ports are shown on the microcontroller as red for high output and blue for low output.

If the Chip is not visible, go to The View menu and select Chip.

Figure 8: PIC Microcontroller Diagram

To save your project ;

• Click on File menu —–> save As… ——> Choose a directory——-> Project Name——-> Save.
• If you want to save the Image of the flowchart, Click on File menu —–> save Image——> Choose to save as BMP or as JPEG——-> Image Name——-> Save.

Figure 9: Saving the Project