Keil µVision is a window-based software development platform which is used in programming several microcontroller chips. It is used specifially in programming the chips connecting them to a computer. It has a powerful debugging and compiling editor integrated into it. It is one of the products of the tools by ARM, Keil. It combines a robust and modern editor with a project manager and make facility tool. It integrates all the tools needed to develop embedded applications including a C/C++ compiler, macro assembler, linker/locator, and a HEX file generator.

µVision helps expedite the development process of embedded applications by providing the following:

Full-featured source code editor.
Device Database^® for configuring the development tool.
Project Manager for creating and maintaining your projects.
Integrated Make Utility functionality for assembling, compiling, and linking your embedded applications.
Dialogs for all development environment settings.
True integrated source-level and assembler-level Debugger with high-speed CPU and peripheral Simulator.
Advanced GDI interface for software debugging on target hardware and for connecting to a Keil™ ULINK^® Debug Adapter.
Flash programming utility for downloading the application program into Flash ROM.
Links to manuals, on-line help, device datasheets, and user guides.

The µVision IDE and Debugger is the central part of the Keil development toolchain and has numerous features that help the programmer to develop embedded applications quickly and successfully. The Keil tools are easy to use, and are guaranteed to help you achieve your design goals in a timely manner.
µVision offers a Build Mode for creating applications and a Debug Mode for debugging applications. Applications can be debugged with the integrated µVision Simulator or directly on hardware, for example with adapters of the Keil ULINK USB-JTAG family. Developers can also use other AGDI adapters or external third-party tools for analyzing applications.

The µVision IDE from Keil combines project management, make facilities, source code editing, program debugging, and complete simulation in one powerful environment. The µVision development platform is easy-to-use and helping you quickly create embedded programs that work. The µVision editor and debugger are integrated in a single application that provides a seamless embedded project development environment. he µVision IDE is the easiest way for most developers to create embedded applications using the Keil development tools.

MANAGING PROJECTS:

A Project is the collection of all the source files as well as the compiler, assembler, and linker settings required to compile and link a program. µVision includes several robust features that make project management easy.

Device Support
The Device Database automatically configures the tools for the microcontroller you select.

Startup Code
Startup code designed for the device you select is automatically added to the project.

Option Settings
Comprehensive development tool option settings may be configured by target, groups, or individual source file.

Targets & Groups
Targets and groups help you organize and manage the source files in your project.

Source Files
The Project Workspace gives you visual access to your source files and eases many common project tasks.

Building Projects
The µVision IDE builds your project and provides warning/error output with on-line help.

Project Workspaces
Multi-project workspaces in the µVision4 IDE allow you to work with multiple projects at the same time. Flexible Windows Management
The µVision4 IDE provides complete control over window placement and enables the use of multiple monitors.

The µVision IDE from Keil combines project management, make facilities, source code editing, program debugging, and complete simulation in one powerful environment. The µVision development platform is easy-to-use and helping you quickly create embedded programs that work. The µVision editor and debugger are integrated in a single application that provides a seamless embedded project development environment. Keil compiler is software used where the machine language code is written and compiled. After compilation, the machine source code is converted into hex code which is to be dumped into the microcontroller for further processing. Keil compiler also supports C language code.

STEPS TO WRITE AN ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN KEIL AND HOW TO COMPILE IT:

1. Install the Keil Software in the PC in any of the drives.

2. After installation, an icon will be created with the name “Keil uVision3”. Just drag this icon onto the desktop so that it becomes easy whenever you try to write programs in Keil.

3. Double click on this icon to start the Keil compiler.

4. A page opens with different options in it showing the project workspace at the leftmost corner side, output window in the bottom and an ash colored space for the program to be written.

5. Now to start using the Keil, click on the option “project”.

6. A small window opens showing the options like new project, import project, open project etc. Click on “New project”.

7. A small window with the title bar “Create new project” opens. The window asks the user to give the project name with which it should be created and the destination location. The project can be created in any of the drives available. You can create a new folder and then a new file or can create directly a new file.

8. After the file is saved in the given destination location, a window opens where a list of vendors will be displayed and you have to select the device for the target you have created.

9. The most widely used vendor is Atmel. So click on Atmel and now the family of microcontrollers manufactured by Atmel opens. You can select any one of the microcontrollers according to the requirement.

10. When you click on any one of the microcontrollers, the features of that particular microcontroller will be displayed on the right side of the page. The most appropriate microcontroller with which most of the projects can be implemented is the AT89C51. Click on this microcontroller and have a look at its features. Now click on “OK” to select this microcontroller.

11. A small window opens asking whether to copy the startup code into the file you have created just now. Just click on “No” to proceed further.

12. Now you can see the TARGET and SOURCE GROUP created in the project workspace.

13. Now click on “File” and in that “New”. A new page opens and you can start writing program in it.

14. After the program is completed, save it with any name but with the .asm extension. Save the program in the file you have created earlier.

15. You can notice that after you save the program, the predefined keywords will be highlighted in bold letters.

16. Now add this file to the target by giving a right click on the source group. A list of options open and in that select “Add files to the source group”. Check for this file where you have saved and add it.

17. Right click on the target and select the first option “Options for target”. A window opens with different options like device, target, output etc. First click on “target”.

18. Since the set frequency of the microcontroller is 11.0592 MHz to interface with the PC, just enter this frequency value in the Xtal (MHz) text area and put a tick on the Use on-chip ROM. This is because the program what we write here in the Keil will later be dumped into the microcontroller and will be stored in the inbuilt ROM in the microcontroller.

19. Now click the option “Output” and give any name to the hex file to be created in the “Name of executable” text area and put a tick to the “Create HEX file” option present in the same window. The hex file can be created in any of the drives. You can change the folder by clicking on “Select folder for Objects”.

20. Now to check whether the program you have written is errorless or not, click on the icon exactly below the “Open file” icon which is nothing but Build Target icon. You can even use the shortcut key F7 to compile the program written.

21. To check for the output, there are several windows like serial window, memory window, project window etc. Depending on the program you have written, select the appropriate window to see the output by entering into debug mode.

22. The icon with the letter “d” indicates the debug mode.

23. Click on this icon and now click on the option “View” and select the appropriate window to check for the output.

24. After this is done, click the icon “debug” again to come out of the debug mode.

25. The hex file created as shown earlier will be dumped into the microcontroller with the help of software called Proload.