Hello, Do you know if the 6X6mm version of the PIC16F18856 has a centre metal pad? The datasheet doesn’t say. The recommended land pattern (page 664) has a centre pad, and it is a potential short circuit hazard to the pin pads.......so we will not follow the recommended land pattern if the actual IC itself doesn’t have a metal centre pad.
what do you mean it doesn't say? It's there clear as day in the datasheet in the mechanical drawing of the package, reccommended landing of the IC, and on pinout diagram.