>>I use a form to display messages at certain points. I have a timer to release the form or it can be released by clicking on the form. In one particular place this message form appears on top of another form which has nav buttons on it. If the user is going along and the message form pops up, how can I get the message form to release if the user continues to click on the parent forms nav button?
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>Is there any reason not to make a message form modal? Otherwise, how about a THIS.RELEASE in the message form's LostFocus method? IMO, that would defeat the purpose of a message box/form.

In the lostfocus event, check to see what the user is doing before releasing the form. But, as Marc said, a message form should be modal.