Put your code in the VALID() event instead and RETURN 0 when you want focus to stay in the textbox.

>if in the lostfocus of a text box i code as follows
>
>assuming the textbox is called Txtdate
>
>Lost focus event= thisform.txtdate.setfocus
>
>my question is
>
>1 why does the control not return back to the same text box
>2 if i want it to happen then what do i do?