Public Class grdBase Inherits DataGridView Protected Overrides Sub OnCellEnter(ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.DataGridViewCellEventArgs) If CurrentCell.ReadOnly = True Then SendKeys.Send("{TAB}") Exit Sub End If If columnDisabled(e.ColumnIndex) = True Then SendKeys.Send("{TAB}") Exit Sub End If MyBase.OnCellEnter(e) End Sub End ClassNow why my approach of developing code in an instantiated grid and move and adapt it to the base class worked for CellValidating but not for CellEnter is one riddle I sitll have to live with ... I guess.