Read Microchip hexfile

Question

I have inherited a hex file for a PIC design, which contains the programming for a USB device. Is there a way I can open it in order to find out exactly what it means and how it works? i.e. something beyond the raw hexadecimal digits.

Complete beginner here - is there a documentation manual? Is PIC a language of its own? This shows the 'Code' section is usually the first item: https://www.kanda.com/blog/microcontrollers/pic-microcontrollers/pic-hex-file-format/. Is the Code section human-readable?

Here are the first few lines of one of the hex files:

:020000040000FA
:06000000D8EF17F012001A
:020006001200E6
:0600080025EF14F01200C8
:02000E000004EC
:02001000FFFFF0
:0400120000000000EA
:0600180070EF14F012006D
:02001E000500DB
:1000200073300000DC000000210000001F300000E1
:100030006000000054000000120000001E050000D7
:10004000040000000C30000000000000130000005D
:0C0050000E00000035000000040000005D
:04005C000F0E9212DF
:10006000070E9412968093680150030B136E010ED5
:10007000135204E0E846FE0B1306FCE1E81C0F0BEC
:100080008C6E956A841C010B800DF3CF14F0821CDA
:10009000070B100DF3CF13F0801C0F0B131014106F
:1000A000126E12380F0B070B100DF3CFDCF0020E9F
:1000B000E66E4EEC17F0E552086E08500F0802E2AB
:1000C0000F0E086E0950085C02E20950086EFDEC44
:1000D0000AF00F0E1214010F156E0A0E166E16C0DE
:1000E00031F015C02CF0E6EC17F02C50136E146AAA
:1000F000135000019213145093130F0E1214010F9A

Answer 1

Actually the default hex format in MPLAB X IDE is Microchip INHX32 HEX-record Format more about: https://www.lucidtechnologies.info/inhx32.htm. You can change the file format under project settings.

However there is possibility to invoke Microchip *.hex file into MPLAB X IDE. This tutorial is valid for MPLAB X IDE v5.35.

1)Select from main menu File/Import/Hex

2)Press Browse button and select desired *.hex file.

3)Select debugger tool like Simulator and press Next button.

4)Press Finish button.

5)In Projects tree you will find new Project with the same name like imported hex file.

6)Press with the right mouse button on project name and select Set as main project

7)Select from main menu Production and select Set Configurations Bits

8)New Tab named "Configurations Bits" is opened. Under the bottom of window press to Memory and select Program memory and set Format to Code!

9)Now you are able to see disassembled code, like: