cycling all the ports for testing

Without complete code, hard to say. First, is x declared as a byte/integer/word, or is it a real value. Real variables won't work as index counters.
Second, have you declared portc as an OUTPUT. Not sure if that compiler auto-sets it, or you have to declare it.
Try the code without the "()", that is portc.x = 1
Another syntax could be portc.Bits(x)=1

If those don't work, try the HIGH(portc.x) or HIGH (portc.Bits(x))

Good luck

will set them sequentially to '1' leaving the previous one high.

If you only want one at a time use

Thanks, Tumbweed that is exactly what I was looking for
again thanks for the idea of using PWM using the pic