Hi David

One quick way to always find out what pins can do is look at the graphical pin layout in the datasheet in this case for the 887 on page 6, It shows the osc pins as being multiple use. I might then look on table 1-1 on page 16 and find say RA6/osc2/clkout and the table will describe, as it does here, that this pin can be assigned RA6 (portA 6) or osc1 or clkin. Also gives brief info and again in this case gives a bit more info that RA6 is a TTL CMOS general purpose I/O, Usually these chips are defaulted in their pin configuration but are easily changed, I would then search down to page 45 which confirms how these pins can be used.

I might guess that if you choose the internal osc without a clock_out/in then the pin could become an I/O, so then I might hunt through section 4, I know it might sound boring but once you have read and got a feel for the oscillator module on one chip all the others are very very similar. I have not been following your project and I am just looking in briefly, so I hope I may have helped rather than hindered but I see you have been grappling with the config fuses already.

Don't worry I'm sure you'll get those lights up before Crimbo.

anyway doesn't one only need 12 leds to represent this particular motif


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