Hi, Dave - 

PowerBuilder applications are single-threaded by default, so when your app is waiting for a database request to complete, the main (and only) execution thread waits. It is possible to create a special type of non-visual object that can be executed in its own thread, and there can be many of these objects executing simultaneously... but it's a somewhat advanced topic with a non-intuitive implementation and there's very little documentation/tutorial information available, that I know of.

Typically, this feature is used to spin off the execution of long-running tasks, such as a database query or execution of a stored procedure, or to offload the writing and/or reading of files, tasks that commonly tie up the main execution thread that is mainly devoted to managing the app's GUI.

If you're interested in learning more, I suggest you begin by examining the four PB Help topics that begin with "SharedObjectxxxxxx". SharedObjectGet provides some explanation of the capabilities.

Best regards,
John

Hi,

One solution could be, 

In open event, disable all buttons, readonly all dws.

In retrieve end event, enable all buttons, remove readonly for all dws.

See whether suits your requirement.