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>From VFP help on Sparse:
>"True (.T.) (Default) Only the Column’s active cell uses the CurrentControl property setting to accept and display data. The other cells use the TextBox control if the current control for the cells is not the container object or a command button. The other cells remain empty if the current control for the cells is the container object or a command button."
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>I think that by putting both controls in the grid column (container and text box), it will show the text box when the focus is not on the column

In this case the FoxPro docs don't lie. Since my column.currentcontrol property is of type Container, the cell will be blank when focus is not in that cell. (Which is what happens visually)
Unfortunatelly this does not solve my problem: I need to display a simple textbox when focus is not on the cell and a container with an editbox (and a button) when focus is on the cell.
Your suggestion that as long as I have a textbox, that textbox will be used when focus is not on the cell does not agree with the Fox docs for containers and buttons (thanks anyway).

Does anyone know of a solution to this problem?

Other than this one detail every other aspect of a container as a grid cell seems to work (with a little keypress and resize wizardry :> )

TIA