>>It runs OK after giving a couple of error messages related to nonexistent properties which are created in the form load. I am guessing that the form is "activated" before it is fully instantiated. What do you think, Gary?
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>>>Is the form running OK apart from the odd event sequence or is the form crashing?
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>>>>I am running a form that descends from frmDataMangerFormCustom form the command window. For some reason, the form.Activate method is running before the form load. Why would that be?
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>Also, any .SetFocus() will activate the form.Just put a breakpoint in the .activate and look up the call stack in the debugger, and you'll catch it.

No SetFocus() at all. But definitely the form.activate is firing before the form.load. What could it be?