k, i bought this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170894855752?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2648
and been following this - (as i did for the radio shack one): Arduino and 7 Segment LED
and i hook it up exactly as it says, but nothing happens when i run the code..
yet another helping hand from grumpymike? XD
is there a way to test pins to see which light up without hooking them all up? i hook up pin 7 to arduino pin 8 and then i can get some to light up by playing around.. but it doesn't work no matter what i do.. :~
I used that same tutorial a few days ago, good starting place in my opinion.
The code written in that example is for a common cathode 7 segment display.
since yours is a common anode, you need to reverse the code a little.
basically, in the array used to display the digits, you need to switch the ones to zeros and the zeros to ones.
once you do that, it should work, provided this is the issue you are having.
as to your second question, yes, you can test the pins that way.
just write arduino pin 8 LOW and connect the common anode (either display pin 3 or 8 ) to a resistor and the 5v on your arduino. then hook arduino pin 8 to each of the cathode pins (display pins 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10) and see which one light up. pin 7 on the display should be the top middle segment
yep it was the 0's and 1's in the code.. thank you
glad that worked!
I am very very new at this, and have been struggling with my own project today...
it is nice to be able to help someone else for a change 
you're not the only one very very new.. son just open his arduino for x-mas and all the little stuff i got to go with it. him and i are both learning.. it's a struggle - but we are doing ok.. very very slowly.