This tip is almost trivial, but it's a D'uh moment too.  Just in case anyone else has missed the obvious. here's a quick tip.

I usually use Swordfish's hardware UART routines and I don't recommend Swordfish's software UART for input, where there are some "gotcha's."  The software UART does work great for output.

A UART output is often handy for keeping an eye on program parameters and status.  I usually use the hardware UART, and in fact have a dedicated connector for the TAP-28 board just for that purpose.  In my icemaker control project I'm running out of port pins and the hardware UART pins are used for other tasks.  I can use them for troubleshooting,but this requires changing a few lines in the program so it's either "test mode" or fully operational.  I need to monitor the output of the pressure sensor used for level sensing because I'm having a issues with leaks in the pressure sensing tube.

The answer hit me in a moment of clarity.  If I use the software UART, I can specify the port pin used to transmit data.  Taking that one step further, I can use the port pin on the ICSP connector that the PICkit 2 uses for the UART tool input!  This means I can program the chip with the PICkit 2 normally, then, without making any changes, I can open the PICkit 2 UART tool and monitor the program's output!  I like to leave the ICSP pins open anyway, so this is awesome!

'software UART test
 
Device = 18F242
 
Clock = 20
 
Include"suart.bas"
 
 
UART.SetBaudrate(sbr9600)
 
UART.SetMode(umTrue)
 
uart.settx(portb.7) ' matches the PICkit 2 UART tool input pin when connected to the ICSP connector
  
while 1 = 1
 
uart.write("my name is fred", 13, 10)
uart.write("I like pizza", 13, 10)
delayms(2500)
wend

There are only two points to note here:

1. The normal mode of the software UART is inverted, so the mode must be set.
2. The correct transmit pin is PORTB.7

Works like a champ. If desired, a TTL-serial USB adapter or a serial LCD display could be connected to the ICSP connector for long-term monitoring.