thanks for your help, getting closer on all fronts....
this is what i have for the css:
$editor->EditorWysiwygModeCss="kySchoolDesignsUpdate.css";
the css file is in the same folder of the php file that refers to it.
i have also tried this:
$editor->EditorWysiwygModeCss="/update/kySchoolDesignsUpdate.css";
this is relative to the root with the license.
neither of these is accessing the css file from cute editor.
thanks, m