Changing tab order of controls while running

[Woinowski]

I know how to change the tab order of controls in the designer (send to back), but I have an application with some runtime generated controls.

Interestingly, the tab order is just the reverse of the generation order, which is slightly annoying (it would mean to use a For/Next Loop with STEP - 1 to get it all in the right order ;-)

Therefore it would be very nice to be able to manipulate the tab order differently. Is this possible?

[Cableguy]

You can use the lostfocus event to make the next control gain focus in the order you want...

[Woinowski]

... although a little bit like shooting yourself in the foot

[Cableguy]

I don't really understand you'r comment...
You say it's a nice idea, but a bit like shooting yourself in the foot, why? it gets the job done...
Another way is to edit the spb file and invert the order of the control-creators code...

[willisgt]

I'm having the same issue - a program which creates a great many controls dynamically, which really screws up the tab order. In my case, I always want the tab order to be the same, so I could potentially use Cableguy's idea of using the lostFocus event.

Woinowski, it sounds as though you want to be able to manipulate the tab order any way you want. I haven't tried this one yet (probably will this weekend), but it might work...

Put an ArrayList on your form. Every time you create a control dynamically, put the name of the control into the list. When you're finished creating controls, run through all of the items in the array list and do something like:

sub form1_SetTabOrder
   For i = 0 to ArrayList1.Count - 1
      Control( ArrayList1.Item(i) ).BringToFront
   Next
end sub

You could alter the tab order by removing items from and inserting items into the array list; just be sure to call the subroutine again when you're done changing the contents of the list.

Like I say, I haven't tried this one yet.

Gary

[Woinowski]

Simple: Setting Focus according to tab order is something that can be handled perfectly well by the Framework (CF) or the Operating System (Windows [Mobile]).

Also, it should be done this way.

Faking (overriding) a tab order by catching events is something only real programmers do. Have a look at this http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/real.programmers.html

Probably you understand why I think this is shooting yourself into the foot. Hopefully, you haven't been offended by my answer.

PS: Feels also a little bit like back in the good old VIC 20 times.

[agraham]

Originally Posted by Woinowski

http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/real.programmers.html

PS: Feels also a little bit like back in the good old VIC 20 times.

Thanks for the link, I remember when that was published though I haven't seen it for years, nor the story of Mel. I have saved them to show and explain the to a younger generation! As you and I, apparently being of a certain age, know there is MORE than an element of truth in those tales of the early days.

PS: TRS80-Model 1's set me off. - My brother was into Commodore Pets. Those machines set off the Motorola approach vs the Intel approach schism that persists in some form to this very day.

[willisgt]

I finally got around to trying the solution I suggested (placing the names of the controls in an arrayList, running through the list, and using .bringToFront to set the tab order).

The form this is called from contains a control called 'arrayFormMedsTabOrder'.

Here's the relevant code:

sub formMeds_Show

   ...

		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "formMedsHeader" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsNDC" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsNDCLabeler" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsNDCSep" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsNDCProduct" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsProduct" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsProduct" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsSearch" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsGeneric" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsGeneric" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsClear" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsDose" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsDose" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsRoute" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "comboMedsRoute" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsFrequency" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsFrequency" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "labelMedsDiagnosis" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsDiagnosis" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsDXSearch" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsPrev" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsNext" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsMenu" )

		setFormTabOrder( "formMeds" )

   ...

end sub

and...

Sub setFormTabOrder( pArray )

	ctl = "array" & pArray & "TabOrder"
	
	For x = 0 To Control( ctl, ArrayList ).Count - 1
		Control( Control( ctl, ArrayList ).Item( x ) ).BringToFront
	Next

End Sub

The code produces no errors, but does not produce the desired tab order. In one place, it jumps halfway through the list; in another, it tabs backwards (relative to what I expect). It works properly on about the last half of the list.

Anyone have any ideas?



Gary

(I finally have a free weekend, so I'll have to spend some of it dusting off my TRS-80, Atari 2600, or maybe the Exidy Sorcerer... )

[agraham]

Anyone have any ideas?

Not really - I am sure that the array list will be in the correct order. I would try excluding from the list the form and labels as they cannot gain the focus so are not really in the tab order - see if that makes a difference.

[willisgt]

I removed all the labels from the list. Changing the code to:

		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsNDCLabeler" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsNDCProduct" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsProduct" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsSearch" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsGeneric" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsClear" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsDose" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "comboMedsRoute" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsFrequency" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsDiagnosis" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "textMedsDiagnosisDesc" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsDXSearch" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsPrev" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsNext" )
		arrayFormMedsTabOrder.Add( "btnMedsMenu" )

did not change the tab order.

The behavior is the same whether I'm just running the code (F5), or a compiled executable.

I've got to be missing something really simple here...

Gary