prog net icprog 105c
Hi !
First of all there are updated versions of both MPLAB (the old and stable 5.70.40 and newest 7.1) and ICPROG (105D). When having spare time try to download the new versions (but your software versions work very well with 16F84). Check the Microchip site and ICPROG site.
Answering the questions:
1) You can write the asm programs in any editor, just save in TXT format with .asm extension. The MPLAB is the easier environment but needs more resources. Even the EDIT from DOS can do that and after this you can compile with MPASM (the DOS assembler for PICmicros).
2) MPLAB can simulate the program, but it has severe limitations as for example bad external interfaces. Simulating with MPLAB/SIM you can see the registers changing values, make breaks, inspecting RAM variables, make some button stimulus etc
There is an alternative that is using ICD (in circuit debugger) tools, which allow you to see what is going on inside a real PIC uC working.
3) The MPLAB can burn the 16F84 if you have a compatible PICSTART PLUS programmer or the PROMATE programmer (both from Microchip and third part).
You have the IC-PROG software that can burn also the PIC (and several other models). All you have to do is setup it properly for your programmer hardware, load the HEX file (generated by MPLAB/MPASM - when you build the program) into the memory and execute the "program all" command inside the IC-PROG. Study about configuration bits (fuses of oscillator type, watchdog timer, PWRTE, code protection) to select the more apropriate configurations for your project