Hey skimask.

thanks for the reply.
someone is never in over their head, they just have a steeper learning curve thats all :-)

I cant upgrade as the software is setup on the machines at the university I'm at.
perhaps i should have clarified better, I have been working with PIC's for a sometime now but this is my first attempt at using anything other than assembly and we also only use a program called PI so code, simulate and program the PICs in, it was created by one of our lecturers and has menu options for all the device setup options so we never put anything in our code about what device we are using and what options are set or not set hence my query about the "@ DEVICE" which does not seem to be intended for MCSP however "@ __config _INTRC_OSC_NOCLKOUT & _WDT_ON & _PWRTE_ON & _MCLRE_OFF & _BODEN_ON & _LVP_OFF & _CP_ALL & _DATA_CP_ON" gives me an error too.

The question about interrupts is, in my view, a rather simple question: can interrupts be set so that they are only "active" at a set point in the program. but then again i have no experience with interrupts as it is only covered at BTECH (post grad) level

As for changing the project i wont, the project is for an electronic measurements subject and as such is not testing our ability to code its putting what theory we have learned about electronic measurement devices into practice i.e. load cells, capacitance level meters and tachometers etc.