I am aware of that. the contol in question is a container which does not have a load method.
Also if I add set step on, I can the the activeform in the watch window...

_vfp.activeForm.oCLaimnt is properly recognised, just thisform.oClaimnt is not.
>AS established, _vfp.activeForm is a reference to the active form in VFP. Called from the load() event thisform and _vfp.activeForm will not refere to the same form. You are creating your object in the activeform not the form being instantiated.
>
>The load event is fired before the init() event so the form does not yet exist. To demonstrate this in the load() event place :
>?_vfp.activeform.name
>?thisform.name
>
>HTH