>>>I have put the code
>>> IF WEXIST("frmBuchhilfe")
>>> _Screen.frmBuchhilfe.Show()
>>> ENDIF
>>>in the form1 activate but get an error on the _screen line. frmBuchhilfe is the form.name of form3 which is really buchhilf.scx. It recognizes that the form exists but I don't have the correct syntax to show it apparantly.
>>
>>Note that if you run one form from another, you can refer to it directly without _screen
>>
>>do form form1
>>
>>which runs form2 from somewhere in its "domain"
>>
>>then from form1 you can just do: form2.hide, form2.show, etc...using the scx name.
>
>Bruce,
>
>Can't get this to work either. buchhilf.show - error object buchhilf not found.
>This is run from form1.activate.

Not sure what's going on...It sounds like a case where a formset might work well, though, that's another idea. Then just hide form2 until it's needed...