TabIndex Property Example

Microsoft Office Outlook 2003

The following example uses the TabIndex property to display and set the tab order for individual controls. 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