>>>>>>>Is there a way to have form2,which is called from form1, to be exclusively active until a button is clicked on it?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Just make it modal.
>>>>>
>>>>>Did the trick! CAn I ask why when compiled as an exe. clicking on either of form2's buttons,the app suddenly quits?
>>>>
>>>>Check what code you put under these buttons.
>>>
>>>[thefile='CSULOG6'
>>> release thisform
>>> clea event]
>>>
>>>is the code I have under forms2's buttons. This is so(I supposedly thought) that form2 would be deactivated and control given back to form1.
>>
>>CLEAR EVENTS kills whole app.
>
>Sure thing.... last quest on this issue I have seen seen but cannot remember how you set the order of the buttons on a form, which one is highlighted by default

Use second-left button of Form Designer toolbar to get a dialog where you could set taborder visually.