Tab index problem

[Leslie Isaacs]

Hello All

I am using A97 and W2k.

I have a form with lots of text controls which I want to assign tab indexes
to, so that the user can move from one to another in a logical order. I'm
sure I've done this before no problem - give tab index value of 1 to the
first text control, 2 to the next and so on. But now, for some reason, when
I assign a value to a text control, that value is not being retained. When I
type, say, a 1 as the tab index for a particular text control (on the
'other' tab of the properties window), that 1 changes to some other value
seemingly at random. This happens before my very eyes if, after typing the
1, I then arrow-down to the next property (which is shortcut menu bar). It
also happens whether or not I immediately save the form, and it also happens
if I click on the 3 little dots on the right of the tab index property to
bring up the list of all the 'tabable' controls and then click and drag them
into the required order.

What's happening -this has become very aggravating.

Hope someone can help - many thanks in advance.

Leslie Isaacs

 

[Chris]

Access provides a "Tab Order" control on the form
design "View" menu. I guess you are supposed to use this
rather than manually change the properties

 

[John Vinson]

What's happening -this has become very aggravating.

You need to assign them "bottom up", starting with 1 and then 2 and so
on. Access renumbers them as you go, so that if you have 20 tabbable
controls, they are always numbered 1 to 20; if you select the control
now numbered 8 and change it to 25, it will renumber 9 to 8, 10 to 9,
and eventually 25 to 20.

As suggested, right mouseclick the little square at the left
intersection of the rulers and select Tab Order. You can now drag
fields up and down to where you want them, perhaps first using Auto
Order (which orders them top down/left to right).

 

[Peter Kaufman]

After a certain amount of controls on a form - maybe 40 or so, tab
index value will not 'stick'. Access has always been like that.

Peter

 

[Leslie Isaacs]

John
Thanks for that.
I tried what you said and it worked!
I am still a bit confused, because I had brought up the 'tab order' control
by another means: I selected one of the text boxes that I wanted to tab
through, brought up the propoertoes window, went to the 'other' tab then
clicked on the 3 little dots on the far right of the 'tax index' property
line. The 'tab order' control that came up looked identical to the one that
came up by right-clicking the grey box on the far left of the ruler - but
the positions that I dragged the fields to were not retained. I would be
very interested to understand this further if possible - but the main this
is that my form now works so that's great!!
Thanks again
Les.

 

[Leslie Isaacs]

Chris
Thanks for that.
I tried what you said and it worked!
I am still a bit confused, because I had brought up the 'tab order' control
by another means: I selected one of the text boxes that I wanted to tab
through, brought up the propoertoes window, went to the 'other' tab then
clicked on the 3 little dots on the far right of the 'tax index' property
line. The 'tab order' control that came up looked identical to the one that
came up by right-clicking the grey box on the far left of the ruler - but
the positions that I dragged the fields to were not retained. I would be
very interested to understand this further if possible - but the main this
is that my form now works so that's great!!
Thanks again
Les.