3.6 Programming

In the MPLAB X IDE, use the MPLAB ICD 4 as a programmer to program a non-ICE/-ICD device, that is, a device not on a header board. Set the MPLAB ICD 4 In-Circuit Debugger as the current tool (click the Debug Tool ICD 4 in the navigation window, then select File > Project Properties from the main menu to open the dialog, then under “Hardware Tool,” click ICD 4) to perform these actions:

• When Run > Run Main Project icon (see below) is selected, the application code is programmed into the device’s memory via the ICSP protocol. No clock is required while programming and all modes of the processor can be programmed – including code protect, Watchdog Timer enabled, and table read protect.

  

• A small “program executive” program may be loaded into the high area of program memory for some target devices.
• Special “in-circuit debug” registers in the target device are disabled by MPLAB X IDE, along with all debug features. This means that a breakpoint cannot be set and register contents cannot be seen or altered.
• The target device is run in Release mode. As a programmer, the debugger can only toggle the MCLR line to Reset and start the target device.