PDSDK COM Kit

Overview

The PDSDK COM kit provides a means for extending the functions of the M3T-PDxx and M3T-PDxxSIM debuggers. This kit may be used to create customized windows for the M3T-PDxx and M3T-PDxxSIM debuggers, and can be linked with other applications. The M3T-PDxx and M3T-PDxxSIM debuggers that support the PDSDK COM kit have a special interface, known as COM*, which can be invoked from an external application. The M3T-PDxx and M3T-PDxxSIM functions are called through this interface.

* COM stands for Component Object Model, which is a standard proposed by Microsoft Corporation to link the OS or applications.

Development Background

In recent years, the customer needs for debuggers have become increasingly diversified and sophisticated. Because all of these needs cannot easily be met, we have supplied an exclusive customization tool called the CBxx (Custom Builder) for our M3T-PDxx emulator debuggers and M3T-PDxxSIM simulator debuggers. However, this tool had several limitations that complicated GUI design is difficult, the execution speed is not high, and the tool cannot be linked with other applications.

The PDSDK COM kit has been developed to solve these problems.

Open Functions

Various methods for controlling the execution of the target program, setting or referencing the contents of memory or registers, and setting software breakpoints, etc. are open to the public. Refer to the method list for details.

Development Tools Used

To create user-customized windows or link the debuggers with other applications, use Microsoft Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual C++ or other Windows application development tools that are available on the market. Following advantages may be obtained by use of these Windows application development tools:

• They come standard with abundant GUI components. These GUI components can be used as the user system's simulated components. Freeware or shareware control components (ActiveX control) can also be used. Or, if so desired, an original version of ActiveX control can be created using Visual Basic or Visual C++.
  
  
• Many reference books are available on the market. The information necessary to create applications can readily be obtained.
  
  
• Linkage with applications that have the COM interface is possible. One of those applications is the spreadsheet software Microsoft(R) Excel (hereafter simply Excel). Use of such an application enables the RAM monitor result to be sent to Excel for representation by a graph, a feature that could not be realized by conventional M3T-PDxx debuggers.

Supported Debuggers

The PDSDK COM kit is supported by the following types of debuggers.

Type of Debugger	Product Name	Supported Version
Emulator Debugger	M3T-PD32RM	V.1.00 or later
	M3T-PD32R	V.3.00 or later
	M3T-PD308F	V.1.00 or later
	M3T-PD308	V.3.00 or later
	M3T-PD30F	V.1.00 or later
	M3T-PD30	V.6.00 or later
	M3T-PD79 (Discontinued product)	V.4.00 or later
	M3T-PD77	V.4.00 or later
	M3T-PD38	V.5.00 or later
Simulator Debugger	M3T-PD32RSIM	V.2.00 or later
	M3T-PD308SIM	V.3.00 or later
	M3T-PD30SIM	V.5.00 or later

Note: The PDSDK COM kit is not supported by the High-performance Embedded Workshop.

Operating Environment

• IBM PC/AT or compatible (Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0)

Sample Programs

The sample programs are stored in a location at the hierarchical level below the directory in which the PDSDK COM kit is installed (e.g., below c:\mtool\pdcom\sample). Refer to the release note (PDF) for details on how to install the PDSDK COM kit.

Sample Name	Development Environment
1. Reset the target program	Microsoft Visual Basic V.6.0*
2. Get an event number	Microsoft Visual Basic V.6.0*
3. Display memory contents by polygon line graph	Microsoft Visual Basic V.6.0*
4. Transfer memory contents to Excel	Microsoft Visual Basic V.6.0*
5. SFR window	Microsoft Excel 97
6. Fill memory contents after reset	Microsoft Visual Basic V.6.0*

* The Visual Basic V.6.0 runtime library is required. If your PC does not have this runtime library installed, please install it separately from the PDSDK COM kit.

About Questions and Requests

The PDSDK COM kit is distributed on condition that no customer support will be provided. Nor will technical support be provided for COM and the Windows application development tools that support COM. Please understand that your questions may not all be answered.