Question

For instance, if I have an ordered set of objects [a, b, c, d, e] with their tabIndex property correctly assigned, and the focus is currently on object c, I want to change the focus so that:

a) Nothing is focused;

b) Next time I press tab, object a gets focused.

stage.focus = null solves (a), however it remembers the current index causing object d to be focused when tab is pressed.

Answer 1

Instead of trying to change the index , you could switch the tabEnabled property of the remaining objects to false, when the focus is on the first objet , enabled it again.

This example is not structured in functions, it’s just demo code to clarify what I mean

    var objects:Array = [a , b , c , d , e];

    //set a KeyboardEvent listener &
    //increment the currentIndex value when TAB is pressed
    var currentIndex:int = -1;

    //when you need to reset , disable tabEnabled property
    //for remaining objects & reset the currentIndex
    for( var i:int ; i < objects.length ; ++i )
         if( i > currentIndex )
           objects[i].tabEnabled = false;
    currentIndex = -1;
    stage.focus = null;

Press tab again, focus is on a

     //enable objects
    for( var i:int ; i < objects.length ; ++i )
           objects[i].tabEnabled = true;