Port Output

[ATTIgeek]

I'm more of a hardware guy than software and I am trying out the demo CCS compiler coming from the Atmel world. To modify bits in the Atmel world I would use:

entry = 0x55;

PORTB |= entry ;

and:

PORTB &= ~(entry);

to set those same multiple bits low.

Is there an EASY way to do a similar thing with the CCS Compiler? Setting bits one-by-one using:

output_low(pin);
output_high(pin);

seems extremely inefficient.

Suggestions?

[PCM programmer]

You can do the same byte-wide operations with CCS as with Atmel.
Just put the following line of code above main(). This will get the
address of Port B from the compiler's database and assign it to
the PORTB symbol.

[Ttelmah]

and (of course), the standard byte-wide functions, are output_a, output_b
etc..
The 'advantage' of these, is that they know to talk to the lat registers for
output, and to the port registers for input.
If 'fast_io' is selected, the output instruction behaves exactly the same as
the direct access PCM shows, except 'knowing' which register to use.
If it isn't, then the compiler adds TRIS settings to the operation. This is why
using the direct access may be advantageous, since it allows you to leave
'standard_io' selected, which means the compiler will automatically setup
the TRIS for all the I/O ports, but you can then do direct writing to the
port bypassing this.

[temtronic]

also...
Have a read of the FAQ section of the manual. It lightly explains a lot of 'stuff'. AS well scan some of the examples in the 'examples' folder. It'll help you get your head into how CCS codes PICs.
If you use MPLAB 8v92, pressing F11 will magically open the manual, making it real easy to search for how to use CCS functions, #USEs, etc.

[ATTIgeek]

A big thanks to everyone for your insight. I should have posted the device I was using (18F4520) so thanks for pointing out the 'LATB' correction.