Hi Mike

Visual MaxFrame Professional has a textbox above the grid. The user can type stuff in the textbox. A timer is reset as they type. When they stop typing for a preset amount of time, a seek is performed and the grid is refreshed.

I'd avoid using your technique in conjunction with something like VMPs in the same app. It would make the interface confusing. May I suggest a visual cue? Put buttons ABC...Z down along side the grid. It would like something like the old phone pads where you move a pointer to the letter and press a button.

You could even have the buttons work. Bear in mind that Ctrl key combinations often have meaning.

Check out THISFORM.LockScreen to reduce the flash.

>Mike and Marcia:
>
>I wanted to report back on what I came up with to deal with my specific problem.
>
>In my current situation, I am trying to search for a Teacher when the maximum on the list will never me more than 170.
>
>The idea of a pattern box turns out to be too cludgy for what I am trying to do.
>
>So I have given them CTRL + First Char to jump to the first teacher starting with that name i.e. CTRL + G will jump to the first Teacher starting with G, then they use the down arrow key to get to the specific Teacher.
>
>To accomplish this I first have to SET SYSMENU TO so CTRL+A does not try to Select All. Then I put the form into loop whereby the nkeycode for the form would simply set mem1 = "A", "B" etc. according to the key code sent in then release the form. The loop would determine that the operator is not trying to exit, and do the form again. The Init of the form would then SEEK MEM1 and bring the cursor to that row.
>
>The screen does flash but it works with the Grid Highlighting and focusing properly on the row.
>
>I have stored your thoughts for the pattern approch for next time but I did want to report on my practical solution for searching grids with short lists.
>
>Mike Smith