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TabIndex property example

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The following example uses the TabIndex property to display and set the tab order for individual controls. You can press Tab to reach the next control in the tab order and to display the TabIndex of that control.

You can also click on a control to display its TabIndex. You 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 Declarations portion of a form. 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.
Private Sub MoveToFront() 
 Dim i, Temp As Integer 
 
 Temp = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 For i = 0 To Temp - 1 
 Frame1.Controls.Item(i).TabIndex = i + 1 
 Next i 
 
 Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex = 0 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Private Sub CommandButton3_Click() 
 Dim i, Temp As Integer 
 
 If IsNumeric(TextBox1.Text) Then 
 Temp = Val(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 i 
 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 i 
 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 
 
Private Sub UserForm_Initialize() 
 Label1.Caption = "TabIndex" 
 
 Frame1.Controls(0).SetFocus 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
 
 Frame1.Cycle = fmCycleCurrentForm 
 
 CommandButton3.Caption = "Set TabIndex" 
 CommandButton3.TakeFocusOnClick = False 
End Sub 
 
Private Sub TextBox2_Enter() 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Private Sub CommandButton1_Enter() 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Private Sub CommandButton2_Enter() 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub 
 
Private Sub ScrollBar1_Enter() 
 TextBox1.Text = Frame1.ActiveControl.TabIndex 
End Sub

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