ok..i adding the following

.vbe.mainwindow.visible = true
.
.vbe.mainwindow.visible = false

so at first, i was getting all kinds of errors (won't mention them as they werea all n00b ones like forgetting to remove a ' {comment} from a line of code that needed to be there like "With Application"). did some research and didn;t know that microshaft xl does not trust the you the publisher and that you have to tell it you are a trusted source :-\ but after that, i think i got it working! "i am so happy i could squirt!" (can't think of movie title but phrase came to mind) thanks for your help. looking back on this, i have been right at the 98% mark for a long time.....thanks for your 2% to draw this to complete.