Dear List Members I wish to set up for a MapInfo user a Mapbasic program to automatically refresh the top map window. This program would periodically (say every thirty seconds) wake up and execute a Window+AD4-Redraw Window menu operation then go back to sleep. Why? Because the top map window would contain a layer from a MapInfo table on a file server that was being updated intermittently by another user, and we're trying for near-real-time data display. The retrieval user must retain control of MapInfo and be able to zoom and pan the map except when the Redraw Window was happening. The MapInfo Products Knowledge Base says Question: How can a sleep or wait function be implemented in MapBasic? Answer: Declare Sub Wait(byVal iSeconds as Integer) Sub Wait(byVal iSeconds as Integer) Dim iEnd as Integer iEnd +AD0- Timer() +- iSeconds Do while Timer() +ADw- iEnd 'whatever Loop End Sub .. but that, of course, is no use in the present application, because the Wait code never releases control of the Mapinfo Pro app, and the Mapinfo pro user is totally locked out, looking at an Hourglass. Q1. Is a solution possible in Mapbasic? Q2. Is the only solution an external +ACI-DDE Client+ACI- program (written in,say, VB, which has a proper timer control) that makes +ACI-System+ACI- topic calls to the Mapinfo app with +ACI-execute menu command M+AF8-WINDOWREDRAW+ACI- as the message? Regards David M Haycraft Information Analysis Associates Pty Ltd ABN 47 085 516 105 1 Cumming Place, Wanniassa, 2903 Aust Capital Territory, Australia Phone/Fax: 61 +- 2 +- 6231 8104 Mobile: 0412 001 134 Email: d.haycraft+AEA-acslink.aone.net.au Web : www.acslink.aone.net.au/actaa/iaa.htm A MapInfo Technology Partner ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put "unsubscribe MAPINFO-L" in the message body, or contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]