asked on

over-ride default arrow key form navigation behaviour

I am using the code listed below to allow users to navigate between controls in a form which is layed out in a grid (sort of like Excel) using the arrow keys. This works except for when the current focus is at the edge of the grid (i.e. top/bottom row, leftmost/rightmost column) of controls then the default arrow key behaviour takes over the up/left keys goto the previous control in the taborder, right/down goto the next control.

Is there any way to over-ride this default key navigation behaviour?

THANKS!

__________________________
Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)
If Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-#" Or Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-##" Then

intColNumber = Left(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 1)
intRowNumber = Mid(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 3, Len(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name)) - 2)

Select Case KeyCode

Case vbKeyDown
If intRowNumber < intNumRows Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber + 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
Else
Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyUp
If intRowNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber - 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
Else
Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyLeft
If intColNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber - 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
Else
Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyRight
If intColNumber < 7 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber + 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
Else
Screen.PreviousControl.SetFocus
End If

End Select

End If

End Sub
__________________________

AltaSens

ASKER

I had an idea and disabled the tab stops for all of the text box controls on my form. I modified the code slightly to what is listed below.

NOW what's happening is that I can navigate through the "grid" using the left, right, and up keys but the DOWN key now doesn't do anything. I verified that the event is firing and that Access is selecting the right case (by using a msgbox) but for some reason, I can't change the control focus.

!*()%)(*!@)(&*!!!

any ideas here?

___________________
Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)

If Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-#" Or Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-##" Then

intColNumber = Left(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 1)
intRowNumber = Mid(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 3, Len(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name)) - 2)

'Debug.Print intColNumber & "-" & intRowNumber

Select Case KeyCode

Case vbKeyDown
If intRowNumber < intNumRows Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber + 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyUp
If intRowNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber - 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyLeft
If intColNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber - 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyRight
If intColNumber < 7 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber + 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

End Select

End If

End Sub
___________________

Scott McDaniel (EE MVE )

So it actually gets to your Case vbKeyDown block, and it runs through that block? And the vbKeyUp works?

If so, you might try a Compact and Repair ... make a backup first, of course.

AltaSens

ASKER

Yes, the Case vbKeyDown block does indeed execute. all of the other keys work. Key Preview is on as this is a form event procedure.

I tried a compact & repair, that didn't change anything.

I wonder if there is something happening at the control level which is over-riding the setfocus...?

Scott McDaniel (EE MVE )

Is there in code in the Enter, GotFocus or Activate events of the control?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Markus Fischer

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AltaSens

ASKER

there is no code in the Enter, GotFocus, or Activate events.

This is the only place I am using intNumRows, this is used to set the maximum number of rows available and the value comes from a rs query.

THANKS harfang for pointing this out, I made a bone-head mistake and the value comparison in that block failed because I was comparing a integer to a string. It's fixed and works now.

AltaSens

ASKER

Here is the final code block that now works.

--------------------------
Private Sub Form_KeyDown(KeyCode As Integer, Shift As Integer)

If Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-#" Or Screen.ActiveControl.Name Like "#-##" Then

intColNumber = CInt(Left(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 1))
intRowNumber = CInt(Mid(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name), 3, Len(CStr(Screen.ActiveControl.Name)) - 2))

Select Case KeyCode

Case vbKeyDown
If intRowNumber < intNumRows Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber + 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyUp
If intRowNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber - 1)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyLeft
If intColNumber > 1 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber - 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

Case vbKeyRight
If intColNumber < 7 Then
strFormFieldName = CStr(intColNumber + 1) & "-" & CStr(intRowNumber)
Forms!TimeEntry(strFormFieldName).SetFocus
End If

End Select

End If

End Sub
--------------------------

Markus Fischer

Thank you for the feedback, and I'm glad this was something simple, in the end.
Success with your project!
(°v°)