Overview:

When a data entry session is first started in Summation, the cursor is active in the form's first field. Unless otherwise instructed, Summation identifies the first field as the first field that was placed on the form during the design process. In form view, when you tab from field to field, Summation moves through the fields in the order in which they were placed on the form.

You can easily change the default field tab order by using the Form Editor's Change Field Tab Order dialog box. There are two options you can use to set the tab order:

• Set the tab order to move from left to right, and from top to bottom (this order is considered to be the natural flow of a form)
• Customize the tab order to your needs

The design of your form will dictate the best method to use.

Tutorial:

Steps

If you have not recently saved your form, it is recommended that you do so before setting tab order, regardless of the method that you use to set the order.

To set left to right, top to bottom tab order:

1. From the Layout menu in the Form Editor, select Set Tab Order.
   The Change Field Tab Order dialog box is displayed.
   
2. Click Order Left to Right.
   The fields are listed in the new tab order.
3. Click OK.
   The tab order is set to move through the fields from the left to the right, and from the top to the bottom of the form.

You can use this same dialog box to customize tab order by dragging and dropping fields. The Change Field Tab Order dialog box displays the list of fields and their respective labels. The order in which they appear in the list is the order in which the tab moves.

To customize tab order using drag and drop:

1. From the Layout menu in the Form Editor, select Set Tab Order.
   The Change Field Tab Order dialog box is displayed.
2. Review the order of the fields in the list box, using the form for reference.
3. Click the field that you want to move, drag it to its new location, and drop it.
   An arrow is displayed as you move the field to indicate the location where it will be dropped.
4. Drag and drop additional fields as needed.
5. Click OK when you are finished.
   The tab order is set to move as you specified.