ok thks, that is really helpful, however something i didn't say is that the dialog isn't base in CDialog class, it it a CRecordSet type, so DoModal isn't member of this one. any idea?

let me say a little bit more about this 'app'
i have a database in access with three tables
vendors
products
invoices

when i create the app shield I select a MDI and the first dialog displayed would be vendors, you know with the navigaton buttons in a toolbar that i didn't make of course, they come with the app shield.

what i need is to be able to call the other two dialogs and have the same capabilities of navigate through the records.

please help me if you have a little time