See if this thread helps:
Re: Multitasking from VFP Thread #924617 Message #924898

>Good evening all
>
>I have code that runs a 3rd party dll. My program code stops execution until a value is returned from the dll. Is there a way to avoid this?
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>Specifically, I am using Blatt.dll to send an email from within my VFP application. lnRetVal = Send(cParamStr). But the specific dll is really not relevant here. Program exection stops until the dll returns a value. In this case, it can take quit a long time, especially if a server logon is required. The lnRetVal is important because it signals success or an error code.
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>In some other language, I might try to run the dll in the background and keep Fox running in the foreground. I don't think I can do this in VFP. Also, I have a differnt app in VFP9 and will soon run into the same issue there; so please don't limit the discussion to VFP7.
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>Your comments are appreciated. Thanks for reading.
>
>Regards,
>Don Lowrey