High Priority Access (HPA) is a 12-month support package that is available on the Workstation, Network and Site license activation keys. It acts like a timer that counts down 12 months from the first time you create a license file from the key and it then expires.

When the HPA expires, any license files that were created from the key will still allow optimizations with versions of the compiler released before the expiration date of the HPA. If a new compiler version is installed after the HPA has expired on your activation key, the license files from the key will not allow optimizations with the new compiler version.

The HPA can be renewed at any time. It should only be renewed in the account where the compiler license activation key is registered. The HPA cannot be moved from one account to another.

After you renew the HPA, you will need to manually apply it to the original key in your account. Any license files will need to be downloaded again to your computer to take advantage of the new HPA.

The MPLAB XC Compiler license is created from the activation key for a specific machine’s host ID. Therefore, the License file is tied to that host ID and cannot be used elsewhere. If you are planning to move to a new computer, you will need to create a new license file from the activation key in your account on either www.microchip.com/mysoftware or www.microchipdirect.com. When you have used all three of the activation spaces on a Workstation license activation key, you will need to contact SW.Licensing@Microchip.com for assistance.

If you need to create new Network or Site license files or have any issues with your Subscription licenses, please contact SWLicensing@microchip.com for assistance.

If you purchased your license through microchipDIRECT, the MPLAB XC activation key will automatically be registered to your microchipDIRECT account. However, if you purchased it through a distributor, you must create a mySoftware account at www.microchip.com/mysoftware. If you already have a microchipDIRECT account, you will also have a mySoftware account. Use your microchipDIRECT login credentials to access your account at www.microchip.com/mysoftware.

If you do not have a microchipDIRECT account, you will need to create a mySoftware account. After you have logged into your mySoftware account, click on the ‘Activate and Register MPLAB software’ link in the left column of selections and follow the instructions to activate and register the license.

Yes, you can upgrade to a newer version of the compiler at any time but remember if the HPA on your MPLAB XC Compiler license activation key is expired, you will not get the optimizations in MPLAB X IDE with the newer version. You will need to renew your HPA to be able use PRO mode in the upgraded version of the MPLAB XC Compiler. Be sure to renew your HPA in the account where the existing MPLAB XC Compiler activation key is registered.

For additional assistance, please read our MPLAB XC HPA Renewal Instructions.

Microchip does offer part support patch releases for the MPLAB XC Compilers. The part support release consists of support files for the newer parts introduced with the newer compiler release and needs to be installed on top of your compiler installation. These support files do not provide any new features or contain any additional compiler architectural enhancements that may be needed for new devices.

To renew your HPA, log in to your account on www.microchip.com/mysoftware. Locate the MPLAB XC Compiler for which you would like to renew the HPA and select the “Renew HPA” option. The link will bring you to the HPA purchase page. Purchase the HPA, return to your account and use the “Apply HPA” option. Download the new license file to your existing or new host ID.

HPA part numbers are:

• SW006021-2H for all PRO Workstation Compiler License activation keys (XC8/XC16/XC32)
• SW006021-2NH for all PRO Network Compiler License activation keys (XC8/XC16/XC32)

Evaluation mode provides PRO mode optimizations for 60 days and returns to Free mode optimizations after 60 days. No further evaluation is available after that time frame.

If you are encountering issues using the evaluation license, please check the status of your evaluation MPLAB XC License by executing this command, which will show you the number of days that are left on the evaluation license:

xclm –demostat <PRODUCT>

Any of the following events will corrupt the evaluation license file:

• Modifying the system date or time after the installation of the license
• Modifying the ‘.lic’ file and trying to change its contents
• Deleting the compiler license ‘.lic’ file and re-running the evaluation license
• Downloading the evaluation license again from the Evaluation License page

If you want to maintain the same PRO optimization features after the evaluation period ends, purchase an MPLAB XC Compiler license activation key from microchipDIRECT or one of our distributors.

MPLAB X IDE should automatically configure the MPLAB XC Compiler. Here are steps you should follow:

• Download and install the latest version MPLAB X IDE for your OS from the MPLAB X IDE page
• Download and install the version of the MPLAB XC compiler for your OS from the MPLAB XC Compilers page
• Open MPLAB X IDE, and follow this path using the Tools drop down menu:
  Tools > Options > Embedded > Build Tools (Tab)

The installed compiler will be shown under the ‘Tool-chain’ list. If, for some reason, the compiler is not appearing there, click on ‘Scan for Build Tools’ to scan your machine for installed tools. When they are discovered, you can add the scanned compilers to the ‘Tool-chain’ list.

Note that if the compiler is not installed in its default location, the compiler will have to be added manually. You can do this by clicking on ‘Add’ and providing the ‘<Compiler-DIR>/bin’ path.

In the MPLAB X IDE Project Properties, go to XC*Compiler >Optimizations > Set Value > Apply

• Open the Project Properties using the wrench symbol in MPLAB X IDE
• In Properties page chose the version of the MPLAB XC Compiler you are working with
• A new page will open, and you can choose the optimization options from the dropdown menu
• Set the optimization value and the use the Apply button

Currently, there is no way to perform offline activation on a demo (evaluation) version of the MPLAB XC Compiler. However, you can generate the license for the offline computer using an online computer and then transfer this license to the offline computer.

To obtain the host ID of the offline computer, execute the “xclm -hostinfo” command found in the bin directory of the compiler directory.

Go to the Evaluation License page on an online computer and follow the instructions to obtain a license for the MPLAB XC compiler. Copy this license into the “C:\ProgramData\Microchip\xclm\license” folder (Windows OS) on the offline computer and the compiler will be able to access the proper license to run in PRO mode.

Use these paths for copying the license file onto computers running Linux or macOS operating systems:

Linux: “/opt/microchip/xclm/license/”

macOS: “/Library/Application Support/Microchip/xclm/license/”

A perpetual license that unlocks all versions of functional safety license is included, along with the following documentation:

• TÜV SÜD certificates for all four standards:
  • ISO 26262
  • IEC 61508
  • IEC 62304
  • IEC 60730
• A functional safety manual for the functional safety compiler version of your choice
• Safety plan and tools classification and qualification reports for:
  • MPLAB XC compilers
  • MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
  • All MPLAB debugger/programmers