Just to set the context for my last post. These are the kinds of apps that I write:

http://members.aol.com/spiritualfiel...screenshot.htm

This one is pure MFC, with a flat file database that I have absolute control over because I created it myself. I can make that thing whistle dixie and scoop the poop if I want!. The view is drawn in, the screen is not a collection of edit boxes, but lines arranged to look like edit boxes. Functionally, to a user, there is no difference between an edit box control and my, for lack of a better word, "text rectangles" lol! The main thing is that the database was perfectly encapsulated by the CDocument, yet seamlessly integrated with the document's CView. I just don't get the idea that I can write this kind of an app with .NET., and I'm not really a control user freak, as I lose control of my app with every whizbang I include. I draw the lines with buttons, edit controls, combo boxes, which are for my dialog windows. There are some classes in .NET that look appealing but they are outside of the GDI+ class. Perhaps if there is a decent C++ book that comes out that goes into .NET, I'll give it another try.