Rodd,

>
> but I'm still curious as to what keeps a messagebox from triggering the valid event.

I guess you could say it is a feature of the messagebox() :) VFP knows that it can only return to the same point where messagebox() was called.

>It makes me wonder if there is some kind of property on a form that can keep it from "stealing" focus from the get field.
>

It is not stealing focus...you are giving focus to the new form. I think it is best the way it is, you can easily bypass valid for these lookup form situations.