Tabs and Forms

[Guest]

I am creating a form with variable spaces between fields. How can I set a
tab at the beginning of each field, regardless of how much distance there is
between the fields. I set the tab stops and tried to tab to them, but that
didn't work. It is set up with a table to make the form attractive and
sensible.

 

[Jay Freedman]

I am creating a form with variable spaces between fields. How can I set a
tab at the beginning of each field, regardless of how much distance there is
between the fields. I set the tab stops and tried to tab to them, but that
didn't work. It is set up with a table to make the form attractive and
sensible.

I assume you've inserted form fields from the Forms toolbar. To make
the fields active, you must "protect" the document, using the lock
icon on the toolbar or the Tools > Protect Document dialog. When the
form is protected, the tab key moves the cursor from one field to the
next; the text between fields is not editable.

See http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=22 for a
tutorial.

 

[Dian D. Chapman, MVP]

Further to Jay's answer...this link will link you to all my free forms
tutorials:

http://www.mousetrax.com/techpage.html#autoforms

Dian D. Chapman, Technical Consultant
Microsoft MVP, MOS Certified
Editor/TechTrax Ezine

View Hurricane Humane Updates: http://www.mousetrax.com/pets.html

Free Tutorials: http://www.mousetrax.com/techtrax
Optimize your business docs: http://www.mousetrax.com/consulting
Learn VBA the easy way: http://www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html

 

[Guest]

I just tried this. I see you have to make a selection. I used "allow only
filling in of forms". Then I saved and tried to fill in. I just wanted what
the first writer wanted, I think. That is to be able to leave fields
"scattered" and tab from one to the next. I was not allowed to make any
changes. So what did I miss.

 

[Jay Freedman]

I have no idea what you missed. Did you follow all the steps in the
tutorial? Did you insert text fields from the Forms toolbar, and then
protect the document for forms? Did the Tab key move the cursor from one
field to the next, or did it not move? What version of Word are you using?

 

[Guest]

I'll take another look at this later. The tutorial I looked at seemed a bit
difficult to take in for a newbie. Also, I noted that the actions did not
quite match with my office 2003, but I managed to figure it out anyway.
thanks.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

What you are talking about is what Word calls an "online form." Check this
in help. For more about online forms, follow the links at
http://addbalance.com/word/wordwebresources.htm#Forms or
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/FillinTheBlanks.htm especially Dian
Chapman's series of articles. You may also want to look at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/LinesInForms.htm. When you protect
the document for forms, the tab key moves automatically from field to field.

Hope this helps,
--

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide


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