Loosing focus on exit_form in custom.pll zoom

Question

This forms question involves the use of the CUSTOM.pll in Oracle Applications 11.03 (forms 4.5) to ZOOM from RCVRCERC (Receipts in PO) to INVIDITM (Organization Items). For those not familiar custom.pll is shared across the apps forms and invoked at new_form, new_block, new_item_instance trigger points. It is the only “approved” method for customizing application forms.
I’m NOT a hardcore forms coder. More of an apps admin with some forms experience in my (distant) past.
The zoom is functioning OK (with auto query) and I’m able to open the flexfield structure (another apps specific) via a go_item. I’m trying to reduce key strokes by having the “zoomed to” form exit when the flexfield structure is exited. The end user is only zooming to reference a flexfield value.
To accomplish this I’m using the when_new_item_instance in custom.pll, checking for the item name (e.g. where cursor is positioned after the flexfield structure) and performing an exit_form.
At this point the user is returned to the invoking form RCVRCERC. But, the exited form remains visible. When I mouse to this form and establish focus the exit_form takes effect and the form window closes and I’m returned to the correct form, etc.
I put some debugging messages in the code leading up to the exit_form. I’m using fnd_message.show for this which produces a modal window that requires acknowledgement. With these debugging messages in place the form exits as expected (e.g. form exists after acknowledging the last message). Its almost as if the modal windows are forcing the focus on the form until it actually exits.
Any ideas on how to get the “zoomed to” form to exist cleanly.
Sorry if this isn’t clear. Not an easy thing to explain.
Note: You’ll see this cross posted in a couple places.
Thanks in Advance
Ken

Answer 1

Sorry about the weird chars. Wrote this in MS word and cut and paseted. They're mostly " marks, etc.
Ken