MPLAB Software Question (Verify Command)

[ko4nrbs]

I am using MPLAB ver. 6.20 to Read and save the firmware from my PIC16F688 chips.  The boards they are installed on are no longer supported so am saving the firmware in the event one of the PIC chips gets corrupted.  Before I Export the firmware from the PIC I select the Verify command to ensure it was Read properly.   I need to compare the firmware between several different PIC chips to make sure they all have the same firmware.  Does the Verify command do that if I Open the firmware file on the computer and install a different PIC into the Pickit 3 chip programming adapter?   Confused as to what the software is actually Verifying. 
Thanks,
Bill

[JPortici]

I am using MPLAB ver. 6.20 to Read and save the firmware from my PIC16F688 chips.  The boards they are installed on are no longer supported so am saving the firmware in the event one of the PIC chips gets corrupted.  Before I Export the firmware from the PIC I select the Verify command to ensure it was Read properly.   I need to compare the firmware between several different PIC chips to make sure they all have the same firmware.  Does the Verify command do that if I Open the firmware file on the computer and install a different PIC into the Pickit 3 chip programming adapter?   Confused as to what the software is actually Verifying. 
Thanks,
Bill

When you program, unless you specify it, the programmer already verifies.
the process is:
- Program hex file
- Verify (read back and compare with the provided hex file)
- Overwrite the configuration bits to lock readout, if specified in the hex file

[mikeselectricstuff]

I am using MPLAB ver. 6.20 to Read and save the firmware from my PIC16F688 chips.  The boards they are installed on are no longer supported so am saving the firmware in the event one of the PIC chips gets corrupted.  Before I Export the firmware from the PIC I select the Verify command to ensure it was Read properly.   I need to compare the firmware between several different PIC chips to make sure they all have the same firmware.  Does the Verify command do that if I Open the firmware file on the computer and install a different PIC into the Pickit 3 chip programming adapter?   Confused as to what the software is actually Verifying. 
Thanks,
Bill

yes, verify compares the loaded file with the device

[Ian.M]

Note that MPLAB does *NOT* give any sort of warning or error message when you read a code protected PIC MCU.  The read-back program memory from a protected PIC is blank (0x0000 NOP filled).   Most commercial products that aren't open source use code protection.  Unless you have *either* checked that you have valid program memory contents and that the CONFIG word(s) don't have any code protection bits enabled, *or* confirmed that you can program a factory fresh PIC and that it runs in your application, this whole exercise is a futile waste of your time and effort.

[ko4nrbs]

Note that MPLAB does *NOT* give any sort of warning or error message when you read a code protected PIC MCU.  The read-back program memory from a protected PIC is blank (0x0000 NOP filled).   Most commercial products that aren't open source use code protection.  Unless you have *either* checked that you have valid program memory contents and that the CONFIG word(s) don't have any code protection bits enabled, *or* confirmed that you can program a factory fresh PIC and that it runs in your application, this whole exercise is a futile waste of your time and effort.

Thankfully it's not protected.
Bill