>Has anyone had problems with z-order NOT SAVING PROPERLY ? When are in desgin mode and have a big shape object on the bottom , followed by a smaller shape object on top of it, follwed by a caption for the smaller shape on top of the smaller shape which should be on the highest zorder but it will not save that way in some instances when there are many more things on a real form ?
>>Has anyone seen this and know whether or not it is a bug and what to do about it ?

Yep, I've bumped into a problem like this too. Maybe someone else knows the true answer of what the underlying problem is, like a Z-order stack limit or something. The best I can offer is a workaround that seemed to work okay for me:

Open your troublesome form, then open a blank new form, and size them to fit side-by-side. Cut and paste the shapes and other objects with Z-order trouble to the new empty form. Then add them back to the original, one object at a time, setting Front-to-back, etc., in the exact order you want them. For each object you add back, do a fresh Save on original every time. This should put them in the proper sequence in the form metatable, hopefully.

Might be worth a try, anyhow.