A TabControl's tabs cannot display accelerator keys so the user cannot press Alt-X to open the X tab. In fact, the tabs cannot even display underlined characters. This example shows how to provide these features.

First make an owner-drawn TabControl that draws the tabs with underlined accelerator keys. (Note that this example always displays the accelerator keys underlined. Some operating systems only underline these keys after the user presses the Alt key.)

Next set the form's KeyPreview property to True. In the form's KeyDown event handler, look for the TabControl's accelerators and select the appropriate tabs. This example looks for Alt-B, Alt_L, and Alt-D.

' Look for Alt-B, Alt-L, and Alt-D.
Private Sub Form1_KeyDown(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
    ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles _
    MyBase.KeyDown
    If (e.Alt) Then
        Select Case (e.KeyCode)
            Case Keys.B
                tabMenu.Focus()
                tabMenu.SelectedTab = tabPageBreakfast
                e.Handled = True
                e.SuppressKeyPress = True
            Case Keys.L
                tabMenu.Focus()
                tabMenu.SelectedTab = tabPageLunch
                e.Handled = True
                e.SuppressKeyPress = True
            Case Keys.D
                tabMenu.Focus()
                tabMenu.SelectedTab = tabPageDinner
                e.Handled = True
                e.SuppressKeyPress = True
        End Select
    End If
End Sub