Tab order on externally loaded MC stops working

hi, i’m have a problem with the tabbing function in an externally loaded form. on its own in test mode, the form works fine. as soon as i import it into the main movie the tabbing no longer works.

i have set the tab order in the ext MC using

field1.tabIndex = 1;
field2.tabIndex = 2;
field3.tabIndex = 3;
and so on…

i also tried:

_parent.field1.tabIndex = 1;
_parent.field2.tabIndex = 2;
_parent.field3.tabIndex = 3;

as well as

this.field1.tabIndex = 1;
this.field2.tabIndex = 2;

etc.

can anyone help out???!!!