>That is what I currently have. I want the find to be enabled without making the form modeless. That is why I thought calling the find function from a button would be a good approach.

I tried that approach using the SYS(1500) function. The individual menu bars are enabled and disabled based on what object has the focus. For example, in the modal form, if a text edit region has the focus, and text is selected then Copy and Cut are enabled. However, if the focus is not, they are not. Creating a shortcut seemed to be the most promising, but even while the dialog appears, you can't do any searching since the necessary command buttons aren't enabled.

FWIW, the only solution (and I don't know if this will be true in VFP 6.0) may be to simulate a modal form by setting the various enabled properties of the other interface objects to .F. in the form's .Init (and menu items too, but I'd do a PUSH MENU, disable the items via SET SKIP .T., then a POP MENU to restore.). Then re-enable everything in .Destroy.