On this one, I do not agree. Few schools in this world have the money (or even that amount of educated professionals to employ) to keep three professors available to give help. More likely there may be one professor (if he is lucky) that decides the direction of the institution. Then one teacher responsible for 30-60 students. Then maybe one assistant of dubious knowledge to help during the time when the teacher has other students.

So help from forums can represent a very significant part of the educational quality for people in some parts of the world. That is one reason why I said that school assignments can't be ignored just because they are school assignments. Posts with "give me" can be quickly dismissed since they give an immediate indication of the requesters intentions. For other school-related posts, it will be a harder balance. But I still feel that work ethics etc is important. If someone wants help, they should get help. But help to learn - which is the primary reason for schools.

I have still not seen any post from you where you have managed to point out what help or advice that have been bad or not helpful?
- The recommendation to divide the project into steps and solve one step at a time?
- The recommendation to move the current-limiting resistors to the column-drive side?
- The recommendation to select shift registers with built-in latches?
- The recommendation to validate the hardware with a small test application?
- The recommendation to not do all output in the interrupt handler?
- The recommendation to not use C++ since the C51 compiler do not support C++?`
- The recommendation to take a closer look at emitting a row-oriented bitmap or a column-oriented bitmap and how that affects the output speed?
- The recommendation to just shift new data through the shift registers instead of worrying about how to clear them?
- The suggestions about how to drive the row transistors?
- The suggestion to not use a case statement or multiple if statements to find the bitmap for an 'A' or 'B' but instead store the character information in a continuous array, removing decisions to find the correct bitmap data?
- The recommendation that two-dimensional arrays are very expensive to use for the C51?
- The recommendation no not use bytes to store single bits of character bitmaps?
- The recommendation to use bitmapped variables as a way to access individual bits without shifting?
- The suggestion to use a single scanline interrupt to decide when to switch to the next scanline, and (after 8 scanlines) when to do a scroll and start with the first scanline again?
- The suggestion that the program can save time by directly ignore the characters outside the visible area, since the number of characters is more than what fits?
- The suggestion that the OP should use EEPROM memory for storing the text (remember that he has several more threads than this one) since the full requirements includes that the text to display should be sent from a PC.
- The request that the OP do report any form of datasheet or similar about the diodes, since we can't help with resistance values without knowing the diode parameters?
- The note that if diodes are run at high currents, then the software may never stop with a scanline driven and that a LED watchdog on the row drivers can be a valuable saver?

Yes, I know that there have been a number of less than nice posts in this thread. I really do not believe I have written any comment I have to feel bad about. I have mostly noted that this thread is in a deadlock, waiting for feedback.

But you are not only complaining about people being rude. You are also very explicitly saying that Aamir has not received any help.

If you are going to complain that the OP has received bad help, now is a good time to point out exactly how bad the given help has been. If you argue a point: Make sure to back your statements with facts!

But it seems both you and Kai has missed one thing in this debate. I'm not just arguing "cut-and-paste" solution. I am also noting that if the requester don't get the required background information, he will not be able to understand Kais code and will not be able to apply/update it. In this case Kai has given a solution where data is stored in code. The OP requires the displayed text to be replaced from a PC. You can't rewrite code that you do not understand. And the code complexity must be close to your own level for you to be able to study it and understand it and then continue to use it as a stepping stone. Too large steps makes a student feel stupid. I'm not a good teacher if I don't adapt the level of explanations. That is a question of empathy.

Kai: This one for you:

Please argue your point about "not anyone will help." Just like Ap Charles, you are right now quite thin on arguments, and a huge number of facts indicating that you forgot your glasses when you read Aamirs threads...