Carmen,
I'm not trying to detract from my solution <g>, but with thoughful subclassing of form objects Jim's solution can be implemented without putting code in all of the controls. I like his solution.
I'm glad you got it working.
>Hi Steve
> While I haven't bought your story :) you have provided an excellent solution. Thanks the cancel property .t. coupled with the code in the valid() of the textbox worked to a charm, and I don't have to code all of the controls as a result. Thanks again to all contributors, it's interesting that so many slightly different approaches will eventually all work. Thanks.
>
Steve Gibson