Don't use a public variable. In the form INIT:

ThisForm.AddProperty('cFilter', '')

Then store the filter value in that form property.

>I have a situation where multiple instances of a form are activated.
>A public variable is used to hold the current filter value on a free table.
>When one of the instances of the form is closed it releases the public variable.
>Another instance of the form then encounters an error where the public variable
> is not found.
>I am not up as well as I should be on my macro substitution.
>Would someone out there please show me the proper way to handle this case.
>
>Thank you in advance,
> B Kunkle