i have the subaru keyless entry control unit part number h7110as011 under the dash of my 98 outback. when i had the cover off of it i noticed a bunch of small switches inside do these switches control functions?

This is the Code Alarm brand keyless remote and requires the GOH-M24 key fob to lock and unlock the doors. Those are DIP switches inside that "program" the unit. This is an old way of keeping programing in a circuit board, think modern day Flash RAM as a descendant. They do not control functions and if you change them from original positions the unit will not function.