hello all --

using w2k and vfp 6.0 (sp5)......

i have a modal form with command buttons that send characters to comm port. here is an example code in cmd_Play.CLICK event:

THISFORM.ole_MS_COMM.Output = CHR(145)
WAIT TIMEOUT 0.1 ''
THISFORM.ole_MS_COMM.Output = CHR(0)

when i click the button, the characters are sent to device (the vcr starts
to play). BUT control never comes back to the form. i cannot click any
other buttons or controls on the form.

i have found two different methods to get back control.....neither is a solution.

METHOD 1:
if i add a messagebox statement immediately after the code,
i get normal control of the form when i close the messagebox:

THISFORM.ole_MS_COMM.Output = CHR(145)
WAIT TIMEOUT 0.1 ''
THISFORM.ole_MS_COMM.Output = CHR(0)

=MESSAGEBOX ( 'exiting cmd_Play.CLICK' , 0 , 'debug msg' )

METHOD 2:
when the form is in its "frozen" unresponsive state....if i right
click on the task box (in the task bar) and select 'minimize' and
then right click on task box and select 'maximize' --- i immediately
gain control of the form and it responds normally.

could anyone give me a clue what is happening here ??

thanks,
patrick