Patrick,

>do i REALLY have to have all forms in the calling sequence non-modal,
>just to use a non-modal out on the end of a branch ???
>
>say it ain't so !!!
>
>
>thanks for any help.

As Garrett said, that's the way it works. Let me, however, fill in the why part.

Let me ask you a question. If a non-modal form is launched from a modal form, what good is it? While the modal form is running you can't access it (the non-modal form). You can only access the modal form until it closes.