I would like to navigate forms using the up arrow to go to the previous control. Shift tab does this but the up arrow is more obvious and requires only one key.

So far, I can write a script for a specific control in which the char event returns scancode. If the scancode equals char(38), up arrow, I can return focus to the previous event.

However, this works for one control at a time. To make this work for every control, I was thinking about putting script into the menu or a the form level but can find the previous and scancode properties.

I wonder if anyone has implemented the up arrow (or another specific key stroke) for an entire form and would share that "how to" with me.

Bob,

The easiest way to build universal functionality like that is through promoted events. However, as "obvious" as an up arrow is it seems to me that this might make your application counter-intuitive to your end users. First, up arrow does not normally work this way for other Windows applications. Second, up arrow in a multiline editbox, edittable, listbox, radio group, etc., needs to work for internal navigation purposes. What you are proposing will either break that functionality or generate confusion as to what the up arrow is supposed to do.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

Bob,

I second Don B.'s comment. You'll lose a great deal of normal Windows functionality if you try to use promoted events to accomplish this. It was OK in MS-DOS because that was kind of the way DOS prompts worked anyway .. sort of. I'd rather use a back-arrow button (as in Windows Explorer) that sends a Windows ALT-TAB to the control which would do the same thing. Forward/Backward arrows are a Windows standard.

Don M.

I like threads like this and FWIW I agree with the 2 Dons.

I started to ponder about what apps I use that have lots of controls on and can't think of any I use regularly apart from the ones created with OI. I then looked at Outlook. Tab and Shift-Tab move you between frames (MDI Child windows by the look of it) and the Back and Forward arrows expand and collapse nodes of the tree controls, unless you're in a window with no children, and then they move you up and down. Up and Down move you up and down (suprisingly sensible for MS!).

Word and Excel don't have anything like this.

If you look at say Screen Properties Back, Forward, Up and Down do move you through the controls unless it's something like a dropdown box, and then they move you through the options.

Looks to me like Windows standards are a thing of the past!!!

Tim

Thanks for the help. I defer to your experience.

Looks to me like Windows standards are a thing of the past!!!

We all know that MS is notorious for violating their own standards, but I wouldn't say standards are a thing of the past. It becomes difficult to define standards when the UI objects don't fit the standard mold that we are used to. However, I would wager that ]99% of screens with normal editfield controls do not use the up arrow as a way to navigate through different controls.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

I was looking at Quickbook. Now it may not have normal Editfields, but in Quickbook you can use the up and down arrow as it feels very natural in that environment.

Now I know that you may not care for Quickbook, but I thought that I would bring that up anyway. FWIW.

Ray

Now I know that you may not care for Quickbook, but I thought that I would bring that up anyway. FWIW.

That's one of the reasons I don't care for QuickBooks. I dislike PeachTree even more. Both systems have incredibly unintuitive and sensitive UI. I don't know how they have become so popular.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

Don B.

They're relatively cheap for what they do and they've got momentum (mostly from the older DOS days). One-Write Plus is no better, either, IMO.

Don M.

Everytime I use QuickBooks which is just about everyday for the last seven years, I think how much the user interface sucks. With every version, they make navigating a little harder and take away some minor conveniences. I have seen the same thing with Windows and, I hate to say it, with Arev/OI.

I have suggested a suggestion box so we, the users, could submit our wish lists for improving OI. Arev is now ancient history but boy, did it teach us a lot and it had some nice conveniences.

I have seen the same thing with Windows and, I hate to say it, with Arev/OI.

The difference here is that we can manipulate the UI to work the way we want. Granted it would be nice if some navigation worked better by default but you are stuck with what QuickBooks offers.

dbakke@srpcs.com

SRP Computer Solutions, Inc.

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