The following works mirabile dictu: \enablemode[b,c] \startallmodes[b,c] \type{\startallmodes[b,c]} done \stopallmodes \startnotallmodes[c] \type{\startallmodes[b,c]} not done \stopallmodes % <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< But the following gives an error: \enablemode[b,c] \startallmodes[b,c] \type{\startallmodes[b,c]} done \stopallmodes \startnotallmodes[c] \type{\startallmodes[b,c]} not done \stopnotallmodes % <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Runaway argument? \type {\startallmodes [b,c]} not done \stopnotallmodes \blank \par \stoptext ! File ended while scanning use of \dostopallmodes. <inserted text> \par <*> testmodes.tex \emergencyend I guess the pairing of \startnotallmodes with \stopnotallmodes is at fault. In core-var.tex 234-235 I see: \long\def\dostartnotallmodes[#1]% {\docheckforallmodes\dostopallmodes\donothing{#1}} should be: \long\def\dostartnotallmodes[#1]% {\docheckforallmodes\dostopnotallmodes\donothing{#1}} I checked this patch: ConTeXt ver: 2008.03.24 23:24 MKII fmt: 2008.3.29 int: english/english Hans van der Meer