I guess the real answer is... NO. There is no way in PBP to define a Variable Aliase that represents the mixed pins of different ports, and then be able to write one word to that aliase and have it go out to the pins. Similar to what you can do with a statement like...

Code:
PortC = % 10101010
Comments to each of the posters in order of reply...

@ ofuzzy1: Thanks for your persistance... I figured it may come down to brute force programming and shifting / and-ing of bits to get them all set.

@ sean-h: That looks clean... I wonder if it is any slower or faster than fuzzy's method?

@ rsocor01: Initially I was planning on using "stripboard or veroboard" so I wanted to minimize the wiring and cutting of traces. I may actually end up making a PCB board and if that is the case I'll surely just use Port C that has all 8 bits.

thanks everyone...

This is why I REALLY, REALLY wish that the PBP manual had more "real world" examples. Many of the code syntax definitions are so bare that it is hard to understand the use of them.

I guess if the manual was TOO GOOD there would be no need for a GREAT forum like this one.

The Scout Camp is this July... I will be putting together the project in the next few months and when I get it done I'll come back here and post code and pictures.

Here are a couple of excellent examples I have found:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Mini...-with-built-i/

Watch the youtube video!

http://tinkerlog.com/howto/64pixels/


Others... please post more ideas if you have them