I've written code far more complex that this but for the very first time I need to engage an LCD and LCDOUT. Believe it or not, I've been in electronics for years but never had the need for an LCD display.

SO --

As a very basic introduction, I looked at the sample program here --

http://melabs.com/samples/PBP-mixed/lcd.htm

What could be simpler right ?

BUT --

It doesn't work and I've triple checked everything. Only to see that in the code, Port A4 and port B3 AREN'T EVEN REFERENCED IN THE FRIGGIN'
PROGRAM ! They're setup to connect to register select and enable on the LCD BUT why in the hell would they be assigned to a port and then not even used ! ?? And as a sidenote how about making mention of the backlight pins 15 and 16 on the LCD? Think that might be worth mentioning?

Melabs documentation (to me) has always been piss poor but please, could someone explain why you would connect these pins to A4 and B3 and then do NOTHING with those ports ??? !!! *&$%&()