help with 7- segment display I'm playing with a 7 segment display.

The following works on my breadboard:

5V -&gt; 330 Ohm Resistor (same row, row 9)
330 Ohm Resistor -&gt; Com Port (row 9 to row 15)
h led (the dot/row 17) -&gt; ground rail


I get the dot to light up.

However, the following does not light up:

5V -&gt; h led (the dot/row 17)
Com Port -&gt; 330 Ohm Resistor (Row 15 -&gt; row 38). 
330 Ohm Resistor to negative rail (row 38 -&gt; negative rail)


I realize that the row numbers are meaningless -- things just need to be on the same row. I've included them to make it easier to visualize.

So basically, if the circuit goes:

5V -> Resistor -> Com, then I can use the ground wire to light up any part I want.

If the circuit goes Com -> Resistor to Ground, I can't use the 5V to light up any part. 

I'm not sure why given that all the stuff is in serial?
Because you have a common-anode display and you're trying to use it as a common-cathode display. LEDs, like all diodes, only conduct freely in one direction.