Control tab order - initial focus problem

Ok, there has got to be a simple solutions to this but I can't find it...

With newly created forms with .NET, how on earth do I select which control is to have the focus by default???
With VB 6 it used to be a simple case of setting the tab order - the first in order would have the focus when the form loaded.
With .NET however, this is no longer true - and even using a SetFocus command on the Load and Activated events will not shift the focus. :confused:

This is most irtritating since I have created a logon box but the password textbox simply will not have focus when it loads up resulting in an awkward user interface.

Any ideas / solutions most welcome...

Thanks in advance!

As long as you make sure that you re-number every control, start at zero, and don't duplicate or skip numbers, it should work fine by changing the tab index. I just tested on mine, it worked.

Yep, tried all that... there are a total of 7 controls on this form, a title label, a label and textbox for the user id and password and ok and cancel buttons.
I have set the tab order starting from zero at the password textbox and stepped up 1 for all other controls... still doesn't work.
Nothing seems to have the focus to start with, then I press tab once and I'm on the password text box? :confused:

Stranger still, it works fine on another form - a properties window - the focus starts with the first item in the tab order, even when I change it! :confused: :confused:


Arrrgggghhh!

what order do you have the tabs set in?

Tab order on the logon form is... (no other controls on the form)

Control - Tab Index
lblHeader - 4
lblUserID - 5
txtUserID - 6
lblPassword - 0
txtPassword - 1 -should thus have focus be default!
btnOK - 2
btnCancel - 3

Starts up and nothing visibly has focus until I press the tab key - at which point txtPassword has the focus.
lblPassword has to be 0 (before txtPassword) in order for the keyboard shortcut to work.

My other properties form works fine, i.e. tab order starts lblUserID as 0 and txtUserID as 1. Load the form and txtUser has the focus straight away! Then if I change the tab order, the default focused control also changes - as you would expect! So....???!!!

Why!!! What??? I must be missing something silly here!?!? :confused:

If you want to force focus on a control, just use the Form Load event.

VB Code:

Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        txtPassword.focus()
    End Sub

That should do exactly what you want.

Of course, I'm not sure how the tab order would work with that. I think that if you hit "Tab" it would go on to the next sontrol like it should, but I'm not sure.

Nope, tried that! And setting the focus on the Activated event too - but still nothing has the focus until I hit the tab key!

Bizarre!


I've attached the source code for this form. If anyone can point out my deliberate mistake, I'd be most grateful!!!

Is it a normal textbox? Or a maskedit or something?

Maybe try deleting the textbox and recreating it.

Yep, is a normal textbox - although it does use a password char, but then I've tried it without that too.
Form is a Fixed dialog, but have changed that too.
Dunno... have tried re-creating all the controls, no luck.
Will try recreating the entire form I guess...

Strange, very strange!

I had the same problem to. I tried to set the focus to a control on load but it wouldn't do it. I was able to set the focus to the control with form activated. I know this may not answer your question, as I wish someone could tell me why it doesn't work. But if you need a quick fix try what I did. Let me know if it works for you also.

Thanks,
Tomson:)

This only happens in VS.net 2002, it is fixed in vs.net 2003.

Took me a few days to discover !!:sick: