>I need all the text to be loaded because the users will need to be able to search the txt box for data.
I've used TextDynamic control (
http://wpcubed.com/products/richtextbox/index.htm which says "Customers also use TextDynamic very successfully with Visual FoxPro." though I don't know of anyone but myself) which is actually a full blown RTF editor with all the buttons, its own menu system etc. HAven't tried it with huge files, though. It used to cost somewhat below $500... now with the various options and the Euro going north, you check the pricing.
Two other options:
Show large documents in Word, and blame the speed on Microsoft.
Load the text into the control in chunks, but display a thermometer and maybe even try to hide the Rtf box while it loads, because it may be trying to refresh its display. Besides, how are you loading the text? I presume it's .textrtf=filetostr("some.rtf") - I'd expect that to be the fastest way, i.e. that your control is not bound.
I did have a lot of text in RTF controls once upon a time - about 200-300 M, but in human sized chunks. Besides, why use text editor control to do a database thing, a search? Maybe it's worth rethinking. I've got my 118M FPT (encrypted!) searchable, returns any memos containing the sought word(s) within three seconds and displays the first one in the rtfbox. Took a lot of work, but it can be done.