C# How to programmatically tab between controls

Question

I would like to be able to programmatically emulate the keyboard navigation for dialog boxes.

I have a custom hardware device with a keypad that I would like to use for dialog box navigation.

I know about Focus(), but I'd rather do something that automatically respected the tab order. By emulating the keyboard navigation I don't have to worry about re-inventing complex behavior for each type of control.

Does anyone know how to do this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

For Winforms, you want want the Control.GetNextControl() method

For WPF, you want the UIElement.MoveFocus() method

Answer 2

In Winforms:

Control nextControl = this.GetNextControl(myControl, true);

To simulate a tab press, I believe it's the following:

SendKeys.Send("{TAB}");

Answer 3

You could use P/Invoke to call the Windows API function keybd_event to simulate pressing the Tab key.

Bonus: you can use your device to enter tabs into a text editor as well! ;)