VB.NET Why is my tab order being ignored, even when I have manually set each control's Tab Index in design view?

I have a WPF application. My WinForms tabbing is acting crazy. I went into the .designer.vb and set all controls .tabindex = 0.

I then 开发者_如何学JAVAgo to the design view of a form and set the tab order as:

0.0.0.0.1

0.0.0.0.2

0.0.0.0.etc

.I have tried using the button in VS.2008

I have tried manually setting the tab order on each control.

I have tried settings every control to 0 and then manually setting the tab order.

I have tried iterating the controls and setting the Z-Orders.

What am I missing?!?

It can be hard work with panels. You have to treat each panel seperately, as RBarryYoung says. Sort out the outmost panels and work inwards until you get to your controls

I find best way is to pin the Document Outline window (Ctrl+Alt+T) on one side of the screen to see how your you panels are arranged and the properties window to the other.

Document Outline - MSDN

Then set the order manually using the properties window. I've never managed to get tab order to work as I would like except on very simple forms.