TabIndex Editor

Note: additional information on the subject contained here can be obtained from an instructional video clip  at the form.suite4.net web site.

The TabIndex Editor is a swift method of defining the TabIndex of controls on a form, thereby setting the TAB-key sequence for the end user.

Recommended use of the TabIndex Editor is as follows:

1. Open the TabIndex Editor by right-clicking on the form in the Form Designer and selecting "TabIndex Editor".
   
2. The TabIndex property values of all visible controls are displayed by the TabIndex Editor in green and red boxes. The color of the box denotes:
   • Green: The TabStop property of the control is set to true. The user can reach the control using the TAB key.
   • Red: TabStop is set to false. The user won't be able to reach the control using the TAB key.
   Change a control's value of TabStop by right-clicking the control and selecting or deselecting "TabStop" from the context menu.
   
3. To change the TAB order of two controls drag the box of the first control onto the box of the second one. The TabIndex values of the two controls will be swapped.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have set the TabIndex and/or TabStop values of all controls to their desired value.
5. If you want to quickly arrange the TAB order of all the controls on a form, right-click on the form, point to "Whole Form" in the contex menu and select "Horizontal" or "Vertical". The TabIndex of all controls is adjusted appropriately.
   
   
   Note: this procedure can also be applied to containers: instead of selecting the whole form, you select a container only and perform the same menu commands — the resulting tab order will only apply to the container, not to the entire form.