>in which case, why doesn't it continue processing when we invoke it with 'alt a'?
>

Harry- I'm glad you are getting close to solving your problem. I have one more thing to throw in though...

I would try to avoid using and OKL to do anything. OKLs are interprocess calls, which means that pressing the key can interrupt a running process and rn the code right in the middle of something else. Not always bad, but can cause some strange things to happen.

I would put a button on the calling for and make its caption "<\A" so it could act as your hot key. You can move it off of the visible portion of the form if you want. This way, your form is always being called from a form method... maybe this will take some inconsistencies out of the behavior you are observing.