The default focus management in AWT only permits focus to travel in the 
order that components are added to a container. This creates severe limitations.

In many cases, such as in a GUI building environment, the user
may first create components in a container and later decide upon
the exact focus traversal order that is desired. Additionally,
the user may wish to change this order dynamically at runtime.
For examples of this, look at VB, Delphi, etc.


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This may be addressed in several ways. Here are two examples:

(1) Add an integer property to java.awt.Component named 
TabSequence. allow it to be set for all components and use
the values found to manage focus traversal (in addition to the
component's visibility, enabled, and focustraversable states.

(2) In a manner similar to that done with layout managers, allow
the user to employ a plug-in focus manager of his/her choosing.
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Currently planning to implement this functionality, or equivalent
functionality, in the merlin focus enhancements.
  xxxxx@xxxxx   1999-12-14