cburtis, Its really up to the way your program is meant to work. If the information from the dip switches can change during the operation of the code then yes you will have to read them during the operation. However if they are some type of preset or an address that is used during the constant operation of the program then they only need to be read once. In the past I have used diodes to common source the switch's so I can also use the pins for other purposes during the operation. The diodes (anodes) are connected to a single pin of the processor so that during the initialization of the code I would place this pin high and read the switches. After reading them I place the line low and away we go.....

Dave Purola,
N8NTA