The -B switch actually works with VFP6. I saw my mistake. I had supplied a JPG file alongside the -B parameter and it expects a BMP.
Now that It can flash the BMP the next problem is to determine the length of time it should flash. I had tried it with 1000 but it must not always be so.It is to be as long as the main screen has not appeared. Let me figure out this.

Otherwise thanks

Fred Matano