< snip >

>Fiddling with Drawmode produces some interesting effects, but not the desired one.
>
>Q1. LINE must be taking something from its ColorSource to do the dash gaps - but what?

It takes form's backcolor to do the gaps(DrawMode=13).

>(Q2. Why do containers have a BackColor _and_ a ForeColor?)

Container is a visual control so it has those properties.

>
>Q3. Any improvements likely in VFP8 to homogenize the treatment of BackColor and ForeColor across the native controls (e.g. CommandButton has no access to BackColor)?

We would know soon (after DevCon). :)