Tab key won't create tab spaces

[ichthysghoti]

I recently moved from Word 2003 to Word 2007.

All my previous files using forms that were set up for users to tab through
for ease of filling out information transfered over to word 2007 with this
same functionality.

However, now I am unable to create tab spaces using the tab key in these
files. In Word 2003 I simply turned off this setting through tools->options.
I do have a work around using <CTRL><TAB> to insert a tab space, however I
would like know how to restore the normal functionality of the tab key for
editing documents, and then use the protection features of 2007 so that users
are limited to filling out forms and can use the tab key for this.

 

[Stefan Blom]

In a protected document, pressing the Tab key moves the insertion point to
the next field. To insert a tab character in a text form field, you must use
Ctrl+Tab, as you have noticed. This works the same in Word 2007 as it did in
Word 2003.

However, you can use the Tab key to insert a tab character in an unprotected
section in a protected document.