What do you mean by shorting out two lines? Two connections on the keypad connection? For example the 20x4 LCD from MO?

Hi, I am new to LCD's being used with computers to display data. If i had a program like LCDC and wanted to be able to use back forward stop and play, and a power button (5 buttons total) near the display to control it instead of a keypad. I was wondering if that is possible. I was looking to get a ...