>I have an app that uses top level forms and now that i think we've gotten all the kinks worked out with the menus i would like to try to get rid of the main vfp window that flashes before the top level form is drawn. the first line of code in my main is Application.visible = .f.

Hi Gray,
Try SCREEN=OFF in CONFIG.FPW. Also you might want to try the Frequently Asked Questions section for items like this. A lot of info there.

Bill