dip switchs & inputs

[mister_e]

The extra i/o to supply external pull-up will work and it's very common.

You could also disable internal pull-up if you decide to use them. But it will leave the i/o floating... Maybe set them as output when you don't need to read from them. Just make sure of the I/O and the switch level to avoid 'short circuit'

[grounded]

thank you both but Iam not sure I'm following what your saying. I'm still a newbee at this . In this little project it will start from a interupt and depending on how the switchs are set it will decide what to do then go back to sleep til next interupt.
But Please for give me and please expain in a little more detail for this simple mind of mine
thanks

[Dave]

grounded, Attached is a portion of a circuit I have used in the past to preset the port for a product. All you need to do is replace the switch SW9 pin 1 or 3 with an appropriate port pin from the micro and when you want to read the 8 position dip switch just place a high level on it then read the port then place it back low.

Dave Purola,
N8NTA

[grounded]

well that was headed right over my head. it just did'nt catch what yall were saying untill I looked at dave's attachment then it clicked.
thank again.