Discussion:
Tab Key Doesn't Work in Word Table
(too old to reply)
LynniePynnie
2013-08-20 19:13:49 UTC
Permalink
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 201
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsof
applications.

I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and th
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.

I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked th
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.

The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.

Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fi
it?

Thanks much


--
LynniePynnie
Stefan Blom
2013-08-20 23:07:56 UTC
Permalink
Pressing Tab behaves differently outside and inside table cells. Outside of
the table, a tab character is inserted and the insertion point moves to the
next tab stop.

Within a cell, the insertion point moves to the next cell. If you want to
insert a tab character inside a table cell, press Ctrl+Tab instead.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
l***@gmail.com
2013-09-23 15:26:05 UTC
Permalink
Thank you for your kind reply, but I don't want to insert a Tab character inside a table cell. I know that you can press Ctrl+Tab to do this. In my case, the Tab key doesn't work as expected to move to the next cell. Do you have any other ideas?
Stefan Blom
2013-09-24 17:35:30 UTC
Permalink
What happens when you press Tab, then? Nothing? Or do you see an error
message?

Does this affect only one particular document?
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by l***@gmail.com
Thank you for your kind reply, but I don't want to insert a Tab character
inside a table cell. I know that you can press Ctrl+Tab to do this. In my
case, the Tab key doesn't work as expected to move to the next cell. Do
you have any other ideas?
j***@hotmail.com
2013-10-15 22:47:22 UTC
Permalink
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
I'm was having the same problem, lynnie. I don't know if it's related or not, but I had installed an Add-in program called FS Pro 2013. It's an awesome program that automates the formatting of certain types of documents, but there must be something in the program macros that interferes with Word 2010's ability to tab in a table. When I disabled the Add-in, I could tab in the table as normal.

Try going to File > Options > Add-ins. Then at the bottom of the resulting screen, you're see Manage: COM Add-ins. Click on the Go button and see if you have any add-ins that you recently installed that may be interfering. Deselect everything except the add-in you suspect could be causing the problem and then click on Remove.

Hope this helps.

JP
Stefan Blom
2013-10-16 18:10:09 UTC
Permalink
Good thinking. Poorly designed add-ins can cause all sorts of problems...
:-(
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by j***@hotmail.com
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
I'm was having the same problem, lynnie. I don't know if it's related or
not, but I had installed an Add-in program called FS Pro 2013. It's an
awesome program that automates the formatting of certain types of
documents, but there must be something in the program macros that
interferes with Word 2010's ability to tab in a table. When I disabled the
Add-in, I could tab in the table as normal.
Try going to File > Options > Add-ins. Then at the bottom of the resulting
screen, you're see Manage: COM Add-ins. Click on the Go button and see if
you have any add-ins that you recently installed that may be interfering.
Deselect everything except the add-in you suspect could be causing the
problem and then click on Remove.
Hope this helps.
JP
d***@gmail.com
2014-11-07 14:06:17 UTC
Permalink
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
Happens to me too!
Stefan Blom
2014-11-09 18:13:41 UTC
Permalink
Inside a table, pressing the Tab key moves the insertion point to the next
cell. If you are trying to insert a tab character in a table cell, use
Ctrl+Tab instead.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by d***@gmail.com
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
Happens to me too!
Suxi
2015-09-02 12:11:26 UTC
Permalink
Hi all!

I am using the current Chrome Browser and Google Docs but neither Ctrl+Tab (this switches to the next browser tab of Chrome) nor Ctrl+] (just outputs ]) works for me. Any other options? Thanks a lot for any tips!

suxi
Post by Stefan Blom
Inside a table, pressing the Tab key moves the insertion point to the next
cell. If you are trying to insert a tab character in a table cell, use
Ctrl+Tab instead.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by d***@gmail.com
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
Happens to me too!
Stefan Blom
2015-10-12 22:59:48 UTC
Permalink
These shortcuts only apply to Microsoft Word. You will have to ask
elsewhere for assistance with Google Drive/Google Docs.

Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by Suxi
Hi all!
I am using the current Chrome Browser and Google Docs but neither Ctrl+Tab (this switches to the next browser tab of Chrome) nor Ctrl+] (just outputs ]) works for me. Any other options? Thanks a lot for any tips!
suxi
Post by Stefan Blom
Inside a table, pressing the Tab key moves the insertion point to the next
cell. If you are trying to insert a tab character in a table cell, use
Ctrl+Tab instead.
--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP
Post by d***@gmail.com
I'm trying to use the Tab key to move from cell to cell in a Word 2010
table. It works fine -outside- the table, and in the other Microsoft
applications.
I tried both the USB keyboard (Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000) and the
laptop keyboard, and I have rebooted, all without success.
I tried reinstalling my keyboard software, and I checked the
Accessibility settings to make sure I hadn't changed anything there.
The only place I have trouble with the Tab key is in a Word table.
Has this ever happened to anyone before, and how were you able to fix
it?
Thanks much!
--
LynniePynnie
Happens to me too!
t***@gmail.com
2017-05-14 12:34:18 UTC
Permalink
I've had the same problem twice in the past year on TWO different computers. An error message pops up saying macros have been disabled (but this is in a new document that doesn't have macros). Most recently my IT department fixed it by changing my normal template somehow. (When asked how, they couldn't remember the steps taken, but said they had been on a screen where VBA was in the header and had changed something there)
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