>>What I don't understand is... if I create the DE in a top-level form...
>>I cannot access the data in other forms that are of type "show in top
>>level form". I add a field to the form and the control source is blank
>>unless I add a DE of it's own.
>
>No, what I meant was more "heretical" (to some, anyway :) - I simply do not use the DE at all for this situation. Just manually open things up as needed in the TL...

Ok... Thank you very much! I will start working on it again with some
new ideas.