Actually, you don't even need to bother with that....just make the QuickDraw calls _GrafOn or _GrafOff. QuickDraw does not need to be started to make these calls. BTW, one method of making sure the SHR screen is clear when you turn it on is to set all the colors in all the palettes to black. ``````````` Nate Trost GEnie: N.TROST b45075@achilles.ctd.anl.gov