Changing order of fields on page

[fec]

How does one go about changing the order of the fields on the page?  We've been using a template that we downloaded months ago and have been tweaking it.  We know that that we cannot change the 1200+ FIDs (field IDs) without screwing up all of our previous records, but we'd like to change the page around so that it's easier to navigate. 

Please see the two screenshots below, focusing ont the Manifest refraction part.  We'd like to be able to start at the OD MR sphere and then strike the TAB key to kick over to the OD MR cyl then strike the TAB key to kick over to the OD MR axis and then strike the TAB key to kick over to the
OS MR sphere and then strike the TAB key to kick over to the OS MR cyl then strike the TAB key to kick over to the OS MR axis
Then the OD add, then the OS add
Then the OD VA then the OS VA.

You get the idea.  I can appreciate that the number NOT in () represents that particular line?  field? on the page and that the TAB key is just going in order of that page sequence.  Is there a way to change the page sequence without having to completely rewrite and reconfigure the entire page?

[gracecrystalpm]

Absolutely! In edit mode, the first set of # you see is the tab order number and second in ( ) is the FID number: Example 26 (564).

To re-order, click the re-order button on the bottom next to stop editing and save changes to database. you will see the fields turn white, now you can delete the first set of #s and set it up any way you would like. It will automatically push the fields down for you.

So if there is only a small section you want to be able to hit the tab key, I'd look at the OD sphere #. let's say it is 26, I'd change OD Cyl to 27 so on and so forth.

If that does not make sense, feel free to contact tech support and they will guide you through it.

Thank you,
Grace

[taryn]

There are actually two ways to change the tabbing order, the first is the way described by Grace, clicking Re-Order in edit mode to manually change the tab number or you can auto reorder the tab by clicking on the small box in the lower left hand corner and selecting ReOrder Tab Page and this will reorder the all of the tabbing for the entire page. It is probably easier to reorder the entire page first and then make changes as needed.

Automatically reorder all fields:


Manually re-ordering individual fields:

[mdeyedoc]

The auto method doesn't work very well if you have a complex layout and you will most likely have to do at least some manual changes. If you try the automatic reordering, I'd backup your template first so that you can revert back to it if that does more harm than good.

To reorder manually,go into Reorder mode as described above. BTW, This mode also displays the FID for buttons if you ever need to know them. The text in the field boxes contains the tab order followed by a space and then the FID number in parentheses. Eg 55 (617) means the 55th tab position is FID 617. There can be more than one space between but you have to have at least one space. If you are in a field with tab order=10 and you hit the tab key, the cursor will move to whatever field has tab order=11 next.

Edit the tab order number to whatever you want. All the fields that come after that will automatically shift down in order. The trick to selecting the order number is to double click area of the box where the order number is located. That highlights just the order number (including the required space before the first parenthesis). Then you just type the new order number +space to change it to whatever order number you want. No need to drag to highlight or backspace or delete. I found that dragging to highlight the number sometimes moves the text box instead (even though they aren't supposed to move in Reorder mode- that's what Move mode is for).

If the tab order number is hidden behind the FID text tag, select the box and the text box data will come to the top. If the box is too narrow and you can't see the order number, sometimes you have to click into the box and move the cursor just to the left of the first parenthesis and just delete several times to make sure the number is gone, then type the new number and a space. If you don't enter the order in the proper format a warning box will pop up that says "Bad Value for Tab Number." If you're reordering a bunch backup your template regularly in case you get this error and can't get out and have to close without saving.

When you get done save the tab and test it by starting in the first field and tabbing through to make sure it goes in the order you want and make sure you don't accidentally run buttons while going through. I usually put all buttons at the end so I don't do that.
Also note that the Shift F8- fills the default value in all the fields in Tab order starting with the current tab position. So if you use that function you want to make sure your tab order follows how you need.

And remember to check you tab order any time you add a new field or button to a tab as it will usually mess up the order.

Marcia