What if you add:

....
THISFORM.ole_MS_COMM.Output = CHR(0)
thisform.Activate

>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