# Input text fields to tab in order?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073>\
**Category:** flash\
**Created:** [January 11, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073 "2003-01-11T16:03:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Scottie](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/scottie/32/72_2.png) [@Scottie](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Scottie)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073/1 "2003-01-11T16:03:46Z")

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I’m on a roll today.

I know there is a method to the madness regarding how Flash reads the order of input text fields. I happen to not know it \<:(

Of course, mine don’t tab in order from L to R then Down. The fields are all different sizes so I assume the order takes this into account. I copied and pasted the input text boxes in a logical fashion but they’re all screwy regarding tabbing order.

How do I set them straight?

\*🙂 Scottie

I can design a city but can’t fix a pipe.

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073/2 "2003-01-11T20:35:35Z")

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give each an instance name  
use name.tabIndex = number; to set the order  
(might need to add before name.tabEnabled=true;)

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**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073/3 "2003-01-12T03:39:09Z")

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Thanks for responding. Where do I add the script, and how should it be formatted? What handler should it begin with? I’m a beginner, so details would be appreciated.

Thanks,  
Scottie

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2003, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/input-text-fields-to-tab-in-order/11073/4 "2003-01-12T09:06:13Z")

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Sorry for that, as I don’t hang around that much, I don’t know who’s more beginner & more intermediate/advanced…

So, in the property inspector, give each textfield an instance name.  
Add an extra “actions” layer, add a keyframe where your your textfields are on the timeline.  
Code goes into that keyframe:  
textfield1.tabIndex=10;  
textfield2.tabIndex=20;  
…  
//(better to go up in 10s, so you have some margin should you want to add another textfield in between…or use 1,2,3…)

add a “stop();” if it’s not already there…

Helps