disable automatic change of tab order

[trolleri]

Problem:
When I create a new control, or change the location of an existing one, the tab order index is changed for almost all the controls across the form.



Description:
I have many controls in this form. The controls are a combination of textfields and comboboxes. I have carefully selected the tab index for each control manually, and the user can now tabulate through the fields in the correct order. If I later change the position of just one control, or add a new one, all the manually set tab indexes for the controls automatically change so the order is horizontal across the form.

Solution:
How do I stop the automatic change of tab order index? It is frustrating to manually set this for all fields, when just a small change is needed.

[trolleri]

I find this solution tidy:
http://blogannath.blogspot.dk/2010/0...s-set-tab.html

[trolleri]

Is there no way to disable this automatic, yet annoying, feature in Microsoft Access?

[ItsMe]

I am not aware of a feature to do this. The control needs an index and it seems Access uses the tab field for this purpose. If it is any consolation, Access has a newer feature to adjust the Tab Order. In design view there is a rather large button for Tab Order in the upper right corner of the ribbon. This opens a window that you can see and drag controls around, placing them in the tab order you desire.

[June7]

I am not seeing that behavior. When I move or add a control, the Tab Order property value is not changed.

[trolleri]

Try to open my attached database below. The text is in Danish, so I know you will not understand any of it - but it is easy to guide you:

1) Click the green button "Opret ny patient" ("Add new record/patient"), and a new form opens to add the new record.
2) Tab through this form, and note the tab order index is correctly set down the columns.
3) Now choose layout view, and move the green button "Gem og gå tilbage" ("Save and go back") to another area on the form. Try to move it just below the two first fields, i.e. under the date-field.
4) In form view, watch how the tab order have changed.

This is a huge problem for me, since I have 16 other forms with 50 fields on average.

[June7]

Two possible reasons: layout view and grouped controls.

I never do edits in layout view and I never group controls and I have never experienced the behavior you describe.

Select all the controls then Right Click > Layout > Remove

[trolleri]

how do you manage to perfectly align the controls then?

[June7]

I align on the grid in Design view or manually set the Top and Left properties.

[trolleri]

Ah ok, thank you :-)
You just changed my way of editing forms. I will however use a combination of both: perfectly align groups of controls before deleting layout.

[ItsMe]

While in edit view you can use the right click then Align. It does not have a distribute option but it suffices for me.