Parallax Propeller Book - Set Up

Chapter 0

Chapter ZERO ??? ... really ?

What's that all about ?

Well, in the world of microcontrollers, it is very common that the First I/O Port is labeled as "0" (Zero) and not as "1" (One).

[I/O = Input and/or Output]

Similarly the First whatever in many programming languages is also as a convention labeled as "0" (Zero), rather than "1" (One).

So, I just wanted you to get used to this concept and therefore I have labeled this First Chapter as "Zero".

Propeller Tool

PARALLAX provides on their website essential software package for the Propeller Microcontroller.

You absolutely MUST have it installed on your computer with Microsoft Windows operating system. The current version of the software package is available from this PARALLAX webpage:

https://www.parallax.com/downloads/propeller-tool-software-windows-spin-assembly

The link to the actual download file on the webpage in zipped format is:

P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.zip

It is also stored on MIROX server in ready to execute format as well:

http://www.mirox.us/PPArchive/P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.exe

Set Up Steps

Do NOT connect your PARALLAX Propeller hardware to USB or Serial port until AFTER you have installed the latest USB software.

  1. Create NEW folder on your computer and name it "Parallax"

  2. Download the "P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.exe" from MIROX or the "P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.zip" from PARALLAX, the sources are linked above.

  3. If you use "Google Chrome Browser" you will see a download tab on bottom left.
    If you "click" the "v" box on the right of the tab, a pop up menu will appear.
    Select "Show in folder" and "click". 

  4. "Windows File Explorer" will open on your computer and the downloaded file will be highlighted or checked (selected)

  5. COPY the downloaded file "PPArchive/P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.exe" from the "Download" folder

  6. PASTE the downloaded file "PPArchive/P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.exe" into the "Parallax" folder

  7. SELECT the "PPArchive/P8X32A-Setup-Propeller-Tool-v1.3.2.exe" and "double click" it.

  8. When Windows asks for permission to Install or Modify, click the "YES" bottom.

  9. The Installation Wizard Window will open, click the "Install" button.

  10. Follow the on screen instructions, if any and when the Installation is completed click the "Finish" button.

  11. While the Propeller Tool software you just Installed includes USB drivers it is recommended that you upload and install latest USB drivers that are available from PARALLAX. Follow the instructions in next section.

USB Driver

You absolutely MUST have it installed on your computer with Microsoft Windows operating system. The latest version of the software package is available from this PARALLAX webpage:

https://www.parallax.com/downloads/parallax-ftdi-usb-drivers-windows

The link to the actual download file on the webpage in ready to execute format is:

Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe

It is also stored on MIROX server as well:

http://www.mirox.us/PPArchive/Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe

Set Up Steps

Do NOT connect your PARALLAX Propeller hardware to USB or Serial port until AFTER you have installed the latest USB software.

  1. Download the "Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe" from either of the sources linked above

  2. If you use "Google Chrome Browser" you will see a download tab on bottom left.
    If you "click" the "v" box on the right of the tab, a pop up menu will appear.
    Select "Show in folder" and "click". 

  3. "Windows File Explorer" will open on your computer and the downloaded file will be highlighted or checked (selected)

  4. COPY the downloaded file "Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe" from the "Download" folder

  5. PASTE the downloaded file "Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe" into the "Parallax" folder

  6. SELECT the "Install-Parallax-USB-Drivers-v2.12.16(r2).exe" and "double click" it.

  7. When Windows asks for permission to Install or Modify, click the "YES" bottom.

  8. The Installation Wizard Window will open, click the "Install" button.

  9. Follow the on screen instructions, if any and when the Installation is completed click the "Finish" button.

Under Construction
Currently this page is still under development, so please check back periodically for new links to pages as we add them to this list.

Links to related Webpages

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Parallax Propeller Book - Table fo Content