>>to check for a duplicate code, i tried using this.setfocus in a valid method, but it doesn't seem to work.
>>
>>if !tableupdate()
>> =messgebox('Duplicate code. Please reenter')
>> this.setfocus()
>>endif
>>
>>is there a better solution?
>
>Have you tried RETURN .F.?

yes, but message "invalid entry" appears and not a kinder message "Duplicate code. Please Reenter"