>Hi
>
>what is the best way of preventing a form being loaded more than once. SO if a copy of its already open I don't want another.
>
>
>Nick Mason

You can check Forms collection. Something like

llFormIsRunning = .F.
For Each loForm IN _Screen.Forms
  IF loForm.Name = < the name of the form to run >
      * the form is running alreday
     llFormIsRunning = .T.
     loForm.Show()
     Exit
  ENDIF
Endfor

If Not llFormIsRunning 
  DO Form < the name of the form to run > 
Endif

You can also create a form manager in your application object an let it handle that.