1. The variables you assign in methods when you say LOCAL are only around as long as you're in that method, then they're gone. If you want a variable to stick around so you can use it throughout the form you should create a new 'property'. To do this, when you're in the form designer go to the menu and select Form, then New Property. Lets say you named it 'Dollar_Amount'. Now you can say ThisForm.Dollar_Amount = 10 or whatever you want to do with it thoughout the entire form. The other choice is to create a 'Public' variable, but I've heard that this is never a good idea.

2. Yep. As far as I know you're kind of stuck with that one. There could be a way around it, but I've never found it. After a few months you get used to it.