Defining the tab order in a DataWindow object
When PowerBuilder generates the basic DataWindow object, it
assigns columns a default tab order, the default sequence in which
focus moves from column to column when a user presses the Tab key at
runtime. PowerBuilder assigns tab values in increments of 10 in
left-to-right and top-to-bottom order.
Tab order is not used in the Design view
Tab order is used when a DataWindow object runs, but it is not
used in the DataWindow painter Design view. In the Design view, the
Tab key moves to the controls in the DataWindow object in the order
in which the controls were placed in the Design view.
If the DataWindow object contains columns
from more than one table
If you are defining a DataWindow object with more than one
table, PowerBuilder assigns each column a tab value of 0, meaning the
user cannot tab to the column. This is because, by default, multitable
DataWindow objects are not updatable—users cannot modify data in them.
You can change the tab values to nonzero values to allow tabbing in
these DataWindow objects.
For more about controlling updates in a DataWindow object, see
Controlling
Updates in DataWindow objects.
Tab order changes have no effect in grid DataWindow
objects
In a grid DataWindow object, the tab sequence is always left
to right (except on right-to-left operating systems). Changing the
tab value to any number other than 0 has no effect.
To change the tab order
-
Select Format>Tab Order from the menu bar or click the
Tab Order button on PainterBar2.The current tab order displays.
-
Use the mouse or the Tab key to move the pointer to the tab
value you want to change. -
Enter a new tab value in the range 0 to 9999.
0 removes the column from the tab order (the user cannot tab
to the column). It does not matter exactly what value you use
(other than 0); all that matters is relative value. For example,
if you want the user to tab to column B after column A but before
column C, set the tab value for column B so it is between the
value for column A and the value for column C. -
Repeat the procedure until you have the tab order you
want. -
Select Format>Tab Order from the menu bar or click the
Tab Order button again.PowerBuilder saves the tab order.
Each time you select Tab Order, PowerBuilder reassigns tab
values to include any columns that have been added to the
DataWindow object and to allow space to insert new columns in the
tab order.
Changing tab order at runtime
To change tab order programmatically at runtime, use the
SetTabOrder method.