Tab Order on Text Input

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I'm currently having issues with my tab order on my pages. It used to auto-tab from left to right between all of my inputs, but currently the auto-tab is seemingly jumping around the page on random. Is this a problem, or is there a way to fix this?

Thanks,

Tony

[v-monli-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

Did you mean the PowerApps' tab? 

This order cannot be changed in my PowerApps studio. Or did you mean the tab inside your app? Please post some screenshots for better understanding.

Regards,

Mona

[Anonymous]

@v-monli-msft

I am talking about tabbing between inputs. See picture below:

I want to be able to type in a value for any of these inputs, and then press "tab" on my keyboard so that it navigates to the next item (the item on the right, or the first item on the next line if the chosen item has no inputs to the right of it).

My applications used to do this with no issue, and now when "tab" is selected, there is rhythm or reason (seemingly) as to where it will go.

Thoughts?

[miglisic · Accepted solution]

Tony, you should be able to control exactly how you want to tab order to work by explicitly setting the TabIndex property on controls. By default (with the setting of 0), the app will try to follow a left-to-right top-to-bottom flow, but you can set >0 positive values on controls (eg. 1, 2, 3, 4...) to override that logic and specify the order you want. 

I hope this helps.

[globUSA]

I am afraid it does not work even if for simple text input control:  I inserted 4 text input controls... changed their positions, assigned tabindex from 1 to 4 in order I needed... unpredictable navigation route when pressing Tab (or Shift+Tab).

It gets more complicated in Edit Form, where we have data cards (without tabindex property)... 

This is a very basic function (existing in Access 20 years ago), and very important for streamlining data entry, at least for the generation that prefers keyboard shortcuts to touching a screen... 

I hope I missed something, so this essential functionality is there but I could not benefit from it...

[jemsjose]

I had the similar erratic tabbing order even after providing the TabIndex.

What worked for me is:

1. Ensuring the TabIndex started from 1 and not 0.
2. Data source refresh after it.

Hope this helps if your TabIndex doesn't to work.

[Francis_Ayson]

Thanks, this works for me. 

[Anonymous]

Additional: you can also use decimals in the Tabindex property.

Handy if you add new inputfields between e.g. Tabindex's 2 and 3; you use Tabindex 2.5 for the inserted one.

Benefit is that you don't have to renumber all your existing Tabbable fields.

[Anonymous]

I realise this is an old post, but I'm putting this here as I think it'd be useful for everyone to know. 

When working with the tab inex property, you can use a calcuation to determine it. For example, let's say you have a form with four fields displayed in a single column form - let's call them Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. After the end user enters something in Alpha, I want the tab index to take them to Bravo. So I would set the tab index of Bravo to Alpha.TabIndex + 1. I then want the tab index to move the focus from Bravo to Charlie, so I would set the tab index of Charlie to Bravo.TabIndex + 1. Then rinse and repeat as needed. 

[whitelc]

Way cool, thanks!