Hi Fatru,

First, if you haven't already, read the 8051 bible (see links, to the left) so you know and UNDERSTAND the uC you are working with. Pay close attention to how the I/O ports work, timers, and interrupts...they'll come in handy.

Second, go through the tutorials (again to the left). These will show you how to set up and use the peripherals within the 8051.

Third, you might find some useful code snippets in the code library.

Fourth, read all of the messages in this thread; a lot of them give good hints about how to do what you are trying to accomplish.

Fifth, do a "moving LED sign" search on google. What you are trying to do has been done before. For example, my search quickly found this site which implements most of your project with a PIC, and the author is kind enough to give schematics and "how it works" explanation. You should be able to apply this to the 8051...if you understand the 8051. http://drew.hickmans.net/movingsign.htm

Sixth, read the documentation that came with your assembler. (You do have an assembler, don't you? Otherwise, download the Metalink assembler.)

Seventh, develop your code in small manageable pieces, checking each out as you go. Blinking an LED is a good start, then blink it under timer control, then blink it under keyboard control. As you get the pieces working, then you can start putting them together into a bigger project...eventually you'll get there (but without the frustration of trying to get a big piece of code working all at once).

If you get a development system such as the one sold by Cygnal, which includes ISP and JTAG debug, you will be glad you did, since debugging without any visibility of what's going on inside that piece of plastic with legs isn't always fun.

Once you get under way and have a specific problem, ask again, but in a new thread (don't resurrect an old thread please).

Good luck!

Dennis