no focus form

I'm working on a mark-up project with two parts. One is the marked up reference and the other is the document being worked on.

I want to be able to phase the reference form in and out of view while continuing to work on the active form below. The form below may or may not be part of my program.


The trouble is that when the top form is phased nearly out I want to still be able to work in the form below. In fact when I click on the bottom form to work I'm actually clicking on the top form and setting the focus back to the top form.


Does anyone know how to keep the top form visible and maximized (although phased out), but continue to keep the focus on the bottom form. I dont want the form on top to receive the focus until I'm ready.

thanks in advance for any help.

I'm not sure if it would work, but here's how i'd do it.

In your form's mousedown event (or similar), work out the screen coordinate of where you clicked. Then using API, simulate the mouse click on the form below.

I'm not sure how well it would work (if it does), and i don't think you'd be able to do things like click-n-drag under your form.


Another method would be to sub-class both your form, and the form under it. Then send any mouse messages your form recieve to the other form. I've not done anything like this before though, so i'm afraid i can't help you further.