How to program an XBee ZigBee module?

I have a project which the information from the microcontroller (drop rate changes of dextrose like sending notification "nearly empty" or "Sudden change of drop rate. Drop rate of 15 automatically return to 14") would display in an application in a computer. I am thinking of using ZigBee and it would be responsible for transferring the information but I am new with the technology.

Does anyone could help me how to program the ZigBee module? I have seen some articles saying that it could be programmed in eclipse CDT. I am bit confused how to get start.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Solution

Use USB Explorer device (or similar) to enter a serial terminal session on the receiving XBee.
Type ATMY to get the receiving XBee's address. Write it down.
Put the sender in the USB Explorer and type ATDL plus the receiver's address, like "ATDL798A728"
Type ATWR to save this setting.
Attach sender XBee's UART (TX and RX pins) to microcontroller.
Plug receiving XBee into USB Explorer attached to computer.
Run Processing sketch or similar to read from the serial port.

The two XBees will run by default in 'transparent mode,' which pipes data coming into one UART out of the other UART, exactly like a wire. So when your microcontroller writes data into the sender XBee, it will come out of the receiving XBee and be read (and displayed or whatever you need) by your software.