Thank you littleJK

All my problems started because I want to verify that a user has filled in all fields on a form.

I could check this when the form loses focus.

But the form lost focus event does not work with the DockingPane.

So I use the Deactivate event. But I can't set the focus back to the form.

Code example.

Add two picturebox to form named frmMain.

Add another form. Form2

Add the following code to frmMain

Option Explicit

Private WithEvents frmForm2 As Form

Private Sub Form_Load()

Set PanePic1 = DockingPaneManager.CreatePane(1, 1350, 1200, DockTopOf)

PanePic1.Title = "Pic1"

Set PanePic2 = DockingPaneManager.CreatePane(1, 1350, 1200, DockTopOf)

PanePic2.Title = "Pic2"

PanePic2.AttachTo PanePic1

Set PaneForm2 = DockingPaneManager.CreatePane(1, 350, 700, DockBottomOf)

PaneForm2.Title = "Form2"

PanePic1.Handle = Picture1.hWnd

PanePic2.Handle = Picture2.hWnd

Set frmForm2 = New Form2

PaneForm2.Handle = frmForm2.hWnd

DockingPaneManager.VisualTheme = ThemeOffice2003

DockingPaneManager.TabPaintManager.Position = xtpTabPositionTop

DockingPaneManager.Options.HideClient = True

End Sub

Private Sub Form_Unload(Cancel As Integer)

Unload frmForm2

Set frmForm2 = Nothing

End Sub

Private Sub frmForm2_Deactivate()

'check that all fields are filled before they move the focus from this form.

MsgBox "Please fill all manditory fields on form."

frmForm2.SetFocus

End Sub

You will see that we are in a endless loop.

Thanks for all your help.

Cheers