help with 4 x 20 LCD

[richard]

seems a strange way to connect it
I would
D0 > gnd
D1 > gnd
D2 > gnd
D3 > gnd

plus r/w can be grounded
it you connect it to e2 then that needs to be defined for correct operation
Define LCD_DREG PORTD
Define LCD_DBIT 4
Define LCD_RSREG PORTE
Define LCD_RSBIT 0
Define LCD_EREG PORTE
Define LCD_EBIT 1
Define LCD_LINES 4 'code works in LAB-X1 without this line
DEFINE LCD_RWREG PORTE 'LCDOUT/IN read/write port
DEFINE LCD_RWBIT 2 'LCDOUT/IN read/write bit

and vo is connected to wiper of contrast pot (10k) that's connected between vcc-gnd

with vo grounded thats max contrast and display shows all black squares