tabbing through controls - what about checkbox control?

[jarychk]

We can make an interface with some controls which the user can cycle through with the tab key. How would user otherwise know when input focus is at a checkbox control? And also how would the user put in the checkmark or remove the checkmark, OTHER THAN by directly clicking there with the mouse?


'observe that no indication if the checkbox control has or not has input focus.
   nomainwin

   WindowWidth = 550
   WindowHeight = 410

   UpperLeftX=int((DisplayWidth-WindowWidth)/2)
   UpperLeftY=int((DisplayHeight-WindowHeight)/2)

   textbox #chkboxtab.textbox1, 46, 81, 100, 25
   textbox #chkboxtab.textbox2, 46, 116, 100, 25
   checkbox #chkboxtab.checkbox3, "CheckBox Caption", [checkbox3Set], [checkbox3Reset], 46, 156, 144, 20
   button #chkboxtab.button4, "Button Caption", [button4Click], UL, 334, 81, 122, 25
   statictext #chkboxtab.statictext5, "tab through the controls!", 30, 31, 200, 25
   open "input focus study" for window as #chkboxtab
   print #chkboxtab, "trapclose [quit.chkboxtab]"

   print #chkboxtab, "font ms_sans_serif 10"
   print #chkboxtab.textbox1,"!setfocus";

   wait

[quit.chkboxtab]
   Close #chkboxtab
   END


[checkbox3Set]    'Perform action for the checkbox named 'checkbox3'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "checkbox would be SET"
   wait


[checkbox3Reset]    'Perform reset for the checkbox named 'checkbox3'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "checkbox would be UNSET"
   wait


[button4Click]    'Perform action for the button named 'button4'
   'Insert your own code here
   wait




[jarychk]

I should have made a web search for part of my question. When user thinks he has input focus on the checkbox, then spacebar will either set or unset the check mark. For figuring out WHERE is the input focus, user might just keep watching what happens to buttons and textboxes as he presses the TAB key.

[tsh73]

Also
if you put (&) in the control name, you can activate it by Alt-letter
so with
checkbox #chkboxtab.checkbox3, "&CheckBox Caption", [checkbox3Set], [checkbox3Reset], 46, 156, 144, 20
Alt-C activate checkbox

OOPS
it activates, shows message, but DOES NOT CHANGE

unexpected...

EDIT
same is radiobutton - it activates but not changes

but if you setfocus it after,
#chkboxtab.rb1 "setfocus"
radiobutton start changing on Alt-letter

EDIT
last weird thing.
Initial program, checkbox does not show selection then tabbed

But if I add (&) to say button caption, focus starts showing on checkbox!

[jarychk]

tsh73

I tried adding the & but this changes nothing. I see no change in the checkbox caption, no change in checkbox control appearance.

[cundo]

so the problem is that we can't see when the checkbox control has focus , doesn't ?

[jarychk]

Jul 3, 2024 21:01:11 GMT cundo said:

so the problem is that we can't see when the checkbox control has focus , doesn't ?

RIght. I can't figure a way through this. Maybe it is not too important and I should not worry about it; but would surely be nice if user could see that a checkbox control have input focus. Really, a user can make a mouse click on that control anytime he chooses.

[tsh73]

BTW if I add another checkbox
   checkbox #chkboxtab.checkbox4, "CheckBox Caption", [checkbox3Set], [checkbox3Reset], 46, 186, 144, 20
tabbing does show selected one.

And as I've said adding "&" anywhere make selection show, too
checkbox #chkboxtab.checkbox3, "&CheckBox Caption", [checkbox3Set], [checkbox3Reset], 46, 156, 144, 20

*UNHAPPY*
on my current machine "&" works about ONE time after I change it.
ONE DARNED TIME!!!
Then it hides underscore.

Google say it's something about

1
For Windows 10 Users:
Win + U or Settings => Ease of Access to open Ease of Access
Select Keyboard Options
Under Other Settings, Turn On Enable shortcut underlines

or

Control Panel --> Display --> Appearance or: control color (from the Run dialog)
Effects
Un-check the item: ☐ Hide underlined letters for keyboard navigation until I press the Alt key

Apparently I grow used to old ways, it was always ON.
I went to my settings - found it under Keyboard options - set it ON
now
1) I aways see "_" for "&"
2) I do not have initial problem in the first place!
Combo box DOES selects on tab!

So as always, it's Microsoft fault. ;)

[jarychk]

Part of what tsh73 says:

Apparently I grow used to old ways, it was always ON.
I went to my settings - found it under Keyboard options - set it ON
now
1) I aways see "_" for "&"
2) I do not have initial problem in the first place!
Combo box DOES selects on tab!

So as always, it's Microsoft fault.

I opened "Settings", put in "Ease of Access" and searched, picked Ease of Access for Keyboard, and ... there is a toggle button for "Change how keyboard shortcuts work" and the part with the toggle switch, "Underline access keys when available". Amazing! User would need to know to look for this in Settings. The item on this machine is set to "OFF". I will just keep it that way for now.

[jarychk]

Another very similar example exercise, difference is now TWO checkbox controls. Use TAB key to cycle through the window's controls.


nomainwin

   WindowWidth = 550
   WindowHeight = 410

   UpperLeftX=int((DisplayWidth-WindowWidth)/2)
   UpperLeftY=int((DisplayHeight-WindowHeight)/2)

   textbox #main.textbox1, 70, 61, 100, 25
   checkbox #main.checkbox2, "CheckBox Caption", [checkbox2Set], [checkbox2Reset], 70, 111, 144, 20
   checkbox #main.checkbox3, "CheckBox Caption", [checkbox3Set], [checkbox3Reset], 70, 151, 144, 20
   textbox #main.textbox4, 70, 196, 100, 25
   button #main.button5, "not yet determined to say", [button5Click], UL, 286, 61, 224, 35
   open "focus study with two checkbox controls" for window as #main
   print #main, "trapclose [quit.main]"

   print #main, "font ms_sans_serif 10"
   PRINT #main.textbox1,"!setfocus"

   wait

[quit.main]
   Close #main
   END


[checkbox2Set]    'Perform action for the checkbox named 'checkbox2'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "first checkbox set"
   wait


[checkbox2Reset]    'Perform reset for the checkbox named 'checkbox2'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "first checkbox reset"
   wait


[checkbox3Set]    'Perform action for the checkbox named 'checkbox3'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "second checkbox set"
   wait


[checkbox3Reset]    'Perform reset for the checkbox named 'checkbox3'
   'Insert your own code here
   notice "second checkbox is Reset"
   wait


[button5Click]    'Perform action for the button named 'button5'
   'Insert your own code here
   wait