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How to: Set the Tab Order of Controls in a Frame

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The following example uses the TabIndex property to display and set the tab order for individual controls. The TabIndex property is a Microsoft Forms 2.0 property that applies to every control that can exist in a Frame. The user can press TAB to reach the next control in the tab order and to display the TabIndex of that control. The user can also click on any control, except a TextBox or ScrollBar, to display its TabIndex. The user can change the TabIndex of a control by specifying a new index value in the TextBox and clicking CommandButton3. Changing the TabIndex for one control also updates the TabIndex for other controls in the Frame.

To use this example, copy this sample code to the Script Editor of a form. To run the code you need to open the form so the Open event will activate. Make sure that the form contains:

  • A Label named Label1.

  • A TextBox named TextBox1.

  • A Frame named Frame1.

  • A TextBox in the Frame named TextBox2.

  • Two CommandButton controls in the Frame named CommandButton1 and CommandButton2.

  • A ScrollBar in the Frame named ScrollBar1.

  • A CommandButton (not in the Frame) named CommandButton3.

Sub MoveToFront() 
 Set Frame1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Frame1") 
 Set TextBox1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("TextBox1") 
 
 Temp = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 For i = 0 To Temp - 1 
 Frame1.Controls.Item(i).TabIndex = i + 1 
 Next 
 
 Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex = 0 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Sub CommandButton3_Click() 
 Set Frame1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Frame1") 
 Set TextBox1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("TextBox1") 
 
 If IsNumeric(TextBox1.Text) Then 
 Temp = CInt(TextBox1.Text) 
 
 If Temp >= Frame1.Controls.Count Or Temp < 0 Then 
 'Entry out of range; move control to front of tab order 
 MoveToFront 
 ElseIf Temp > Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex Then 
 'Move entry down the list 
 For i = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex + 1 To Temp 
 Frame1.Controls.Item(i).TabIndex = i - 1 
 Next 
 Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex = Temp 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 Else 
 'Move Entry up the list 
 For i = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex - 1 To Temp 
 Frame1.Controls.Item(i).TabIndex = i + 1 
 Next 
 Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex = Temp 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 End If 
 Else 
 'Text entry; move control to front of tab order 
 MoveToFront 
 End If 
End Sub 
 
Sub Item_Open() 
 Set Frame1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Frame1") 
 Set TextBox1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("TextBox1") 
 Set Label1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Label1") 
 Set CommandButton3 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("CommandButton3") 
 
 Label1.Caption = "TabIndex" 
 
 Frame1.Controls(0).SetFocus 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 
 Frame1.Cycle = 2 '2=fmCycleCurrentForm 
 
 CommandButton3.Caption = "Set TabIndex" 
 CommandButton3.TakeFocusOnClick = False 
End Sub 
 
Sub CommandButton1_Click() 
 Set Frame1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Frame1") 
 Set TextBox1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("TextBox1") 
 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Sub CommandButton2_Click() 
 Set Frame1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("Frame1") 
 Set TextBox1 = Item.GetInspector.ModifiedFormPages("P.2").Controls("TextBox1") 
 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub