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.

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0700, "laughter33"
wrote:

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.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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



On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0700, "laughter33"
wrote:

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 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" wrote:

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0700, "laughter33"
wrote:

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.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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?

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

sussertown wrote:
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" wrote:

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0700, "laughter33"
wrote:

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.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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.

"Jay Freedman" wrote:

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?

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

sussertown wrote:
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" wrote:

On Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:24:04 -0700, "laughter33"
wrote:

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.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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/Customizat...nTheBlanks.htm especially Dian
Chapman's series of articles. You may also want to look at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFl...nesInForms.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

See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
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"laughter33" wrote in message
...
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.