DOCUMENT:Q161247  14-JUL-1997  [vbwin]
TITLE   :HOWTO: Make ENTER Key Move Focus Like TAB Key for VB Control
PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
PROD/VER:5.00
OPER/SYS:WINDOWS
KEYWORDS:kbusage PrgCtrlsStd vb5all vb5howto VBKBCtrl_VBKBStd kbhowto

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning, Professional, and Enterprise Editions,
   for Windows, version 5.0
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SUMMARY
=======

You can cause the ENTER key to move the focus to the control with the
next higher TabIndex property value just as the TAB key does.

However, using the ENTER key to move the focus does not follow recommended
Microsoft Windows-based application design guidelines. The ENTER key should
be used to process the default command or to process entered information,
not to move the focus.

MORE INFORMATION
================

You can detect when the user presses the ENTER key from the KeyPress event
procedure by checking to see if the KeyAscii parameter is the character
code for the ENTER key (13). Then you can move the focus to the next
control in the TabIndex order with SendKeys "{tab}". You can move the focus
to the previous control with SendKeys "+{tab}".

This technique works with most kinds of controls. It does not work with
CommandButton controls, however, because CommandButtons do not receive the
KeyPress event when you press the ENTER key.

Steps to Create Example Program
-------------------------------

1. Start Visual Basic, or, if Visual Basic is running, create a new
   project. Form1 is created by default.

2. Add two textboxes, Text1 and Text2, to Form1.

3. Copy and paste the following code into the Form1 code window:

      Private Sub Text1_KeyPress (KeyAscii As Integer)
         If KeyAscii = 13 Then  ' The ENTER key.
            SendKeys "{tab}"    ' Set the focus to the next control.
            KeyAscii = 0        ' Ignore this key.
         End If
      End Sub
   
      Private Sub Text2_KeyPress (KeyAscii As Integer)
         If KeyAscii = 13 Then  ' The ENTER key.
            SendKeys "{tab}"    ' Set the focus to the next control.
            KeyAscii = 0        ' Ignore this key.
         End If
      End Sub

4. Press the F5 key to run the program. When you press the ENTER key, the
   focus moves between the two controls.
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Keywords            : kbusage PrgCtrlsStd vb5all vb5howto VBKBCtrl_VBKBStd kbhowto
Version             : 5.00
Platform            : WINDOWS
Issue type          : kbhowto

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