Simon,

>>In VFP when we got a new install, or a new release or started a new app etc., the first thing we'd do is sub-class the base classes to insulate us from changes, and give us flexibility to add higher level functionality etc.
Does the same apply in .Net ?

Definitely!!!

>>From my hours of reading, perhaps the wrong books, I haven't seen this mentioned...

Yep. Wrong books. <g> Actually, I don't know if I've seen it mentioned in any of the older books, but I haven't read any newer ones lately ... As far as sub-classing Mere Mortals, I'll have to leave that answer up to someone who uses it. I guess it couldn't hurt though. <g>

>>If it is needed, then surely a useful enhancement to .Net in the future would be to provide a tool that does this automatically (I'll now be told it exists...).

AFAIK, there isn't a tool to do this automatically, but I don't know everything. I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong. <s>

~~Bonnie