Yahoo! I have to share my discovery!
If you have an issue like I had where VFP is updating non-sparse grid columns in forms that are NOT currently active, then just add this code in the form.activate(). For some reason, this makes VFP behave.

DOEVENTS
?? ""
RETURN DODEFAULT()

Note, the symptom of this issue is if you drag another form over the form with the non-sparse grid, and you see the underlying non-sparse grid column flashing (then most likely VFP is updating the controls in each row over and over). Or if you see a rapidly flashing cursor and your cpu cycles are getting eaten up.

-Mark

>Mark,
>
>Grids are particularly nasty about repulling focus. You may be able reset focus to a more benign control like a cmd on the original form before you launch the child form. Glad you got it working.
>