OK ---

The final word on this whole issue: Thanks to Bruce, I looked closely at that Desktop setting....hmmm, no effect on Top-Level forms says the documentation. So I set it to .F. and re-ran the application. Surprise! After I return from my modal child form to the Top-Level form, the Close button is re-enabled!! Hurrah.

So, the moral of the story is that there is a VFP6 bug: The Desktop setting is not ignored and will cause your Close button to disable in the parent, top-level form IF set to .T.; therefore, leave it False.

Bruce: I'll leave you the honor of posting a FAQ on this here at the UT? Or email MS because this deserves a KB IMHO.