>This case you should restore Grid.Recordsource programmatically:
*** page.activate event
This.Grid.Recordsource=This.Grid.Recordsource
This.Grid.Refresh
Note, that combining packing and data entry screens is abnormal application approach. It's enough to set SET DELETED ON and 'gaps' will not be visible for users.

edward, the approach works fine however it poses a few more questions:

1) once the grid refreshes, it displays ALL columns. how do i tell it which columns to display?

2) where is the best place to call 'SET DELETED ON'?

3)should i copy tables/indexes instead of using pack? and how often should this be done? why does pack only work from a menu and not from a control?

sorry for being a pest. david