Hi Don,
the ObjProperties parameter is coming from the Reporting engine core. So you won't find where the .Text property is being populated. If it is a numeric value you can use the .Value property and covert it to text and assign it to the .Text property yourself, to override the "****" value. Remeber to set the .Reload property to .T. so the Reporting engine will use your updated value.
FYI, this usually happens to numeric values if the picture/format expression is larger than the field box width and has nothing to do with the width of the actually value being displayed.
HTH,