>I am wondering why you wouldn't use openchild() placed in a user-defined action on the parent form called from the menu??

You could. I think I understand what you are asking but to be honest, I don't quite see the problem <s>. OpenForm is used from the menu to open the parent form. OpenChild is a method of the parent form that allows you to call certain types of child form. OK so far <s>.

As for putting the openchild call in a user defined action, well that's OK too. You could put the call to openchild in any form method and call it from a command button. Obviously, creating an action for the openchild requirement will allow numerous benefits when utilised by the statemanager.

So, you call your parent form from a menu option and if you are not on the correct record, you navigate to it. You then want to create a report using the TX control so you call your child form that contains the TX control and there you have it.

Your original question was "calling a childform from a menu". The answer is therefore that using openchild is not really going to be an option from a menu item because it is a method of the parent form. So, you will have to call the parent form first.

Is the question therefore, "how can I call a parent form from a menu and have it automatically launch a childform?" ?

Let me know if we are on track.