Controlling the Tab Order in Excel Dialog Boxes

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q62141
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, versions 2.2, 3.0

SUMMARY

Microsoft Excel dialog box statements are interpreted as they are listed from top to bottom in the macro sheet. As a result, tabbing between items in the dialog box occurs in the order that they are listed on the macro sheet.

MORE INFORMATION

You can correct a tabbing order that proceeds out of logical sequence or lets you decide which item in the dialog box will be active when you run the macro. You also can set a critical path through your dialog box, as follows:

  1. Place all critical items (must get input to proceed) at the top in the dialog box description code.

  2. Place the OK and Cancel buttons just below all the critical items in the dialog-box description code.

  3. Place all noncritical items (rarely used or needed) below the OK and Cancel buttons in the dialog-box description code.

Now when the dialog box comes up in the macro, you can tab through just the critical items and select OK without needing to provide input to noncritical items.

Note: the information above also applies to version 5.0 only when using version 4.0 macro language.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.10 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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