I'm overlooking something simple.

I have a form which includes buttons to execute some medium length (2O TO 20 SECONDS processes.)

I don't want to use :
WAIT "PLEASE WAIT ..." WINDOW NOWAIT
because it sometimes disappears before the process ends. So I tried using the define window/show window command.

My processes (which include extensive references to _SCREEN.ACTIVEFORM immediately blow up -- because as soon as I do a "show window" the window I've defined becomes the active form. If I re-activate the form the window is hidden behind it. No doubt due to sheer stupidity, I cannot figure out how to display a window/form other than the current form while leaving the current form as the active one referenced by _SCREEN.ACTIVEFORM or THISFORM.

If I have to I can programmatically create and destroy a label or an edit box -- but before I turn to this, there has got to be a way to do this with temporary windows. I mean people use temporary windows for progress thermometers all the time ...

Thanks in advance for helping me overcome what has got to be some sort of mental block...