dear eric
actually, the code i submitted for implementing a map within vb does not only display the map as image.
there are some useful constants we can use to execute commands as if we are in mapinfo.
here are some if you want to try.

put the following code in a module:

Global Const M_TOOLS_SELECTOR = 1701
Global Const M_TOOLS_SEARCH_RECT = 1722
Global Const M_TOOLS_SEARCH_RADIUS = 1703
Global Const M_TOOLS_SEARCH_BOUNDARY = 1704
Global Const M_TOOLS_EXPAND = 1705
Global Const M_TOOLS_SHRINK = 1706
Global Const M_TOOLS_RECENTER = 1702
Global Const M_TOOLS_PNT_QUERY = 1707
Global Const M_TOOLS_LABELER = 1708
Global Const M_TOOLS_DRAGWINDOW = 1734
Global Const M_TOOLS_RULER = 1710
Global Const M_TOOLS_INFO = 1790

call them by using the following:
ex:

mapinfo.RunMenuCommand 1708

this will allow you for instance to display the label.

i can e.mail you the entire constants list if you want.