The Tab Function

  • Thread starter Thread starter dazza
  • Start date Start date
D

dazza

Just a quick one.

In a worksheet, pressing the tab key allows the user to
move to the next cell to the right. Is there a way to
restrict which cells the user can go to? For example the
cursor starts off in cell A5 and when the tab key is hit
the cursor moves to cell B5 instead of A6?

Cheers,
D
 
You just said the tab key moves one cell to the right. B5 is one cell to
the right of A5. So from A5, a tab would move to B5 and not A6. .

Regards,
Tom Ogilvy
 
dazza

First of all........B5 is to the right of A5. The TAB key will take you there.

A6 is below A5. The ENTER key will take you there if Tools>Options>Edit "move
after enter" is set to "down".

If you are looking to restrict users to non-contiguous cells in a sequence
there are a couple of methods.

1. Unlock the cells you want to TAB to then protect the worksheet.

If your unlocked cells are in a left to right, top to bottom series, the TAB
key will move you through them as long as Sheet Protection is enabled.

2. If not in this configuration.....you can do it with a Named Range and no
sheet protection.

Assuming your range of cells to be A1, B2, C3, F4, A2, F1 for example.

Select the Second cell(B2) you want in the range then CRTL + click your way
through the range in the order you wish, ending with the First cell(A1). Name
this range under Insert>Name>Define>OK.

Now click on NameBox(top left corner above row 1 and col A), select the range
name to highlight the range. With these cells selected, you can input data
and Tab or Enter your way through the range in the order you selected.

Note: there is a limit of about 25 - 30 cells to a range using this method due
to a 255 character limit in a named range. Longer sheet names will reduce the
number of cells considerably.

If more needed, you can enter them manually in thr "refers to" box.

From Debra Dalgleish.....
The limit is 255 characters in the Name definition. For example, I can
define a range of 46 non-contiguous cells, with the following string:

=$B$2,$D$2,$F$2,$H$2,$J$2,$B$4,$D$4,$F$4,$H$4,$J$4,$B$6,$D$6,$F$6,$H$6,
$J$6,$B$8,$D$8,$F$8,$H$8,$J$8,$B$10,$D$10,$F$10,$H$10,$J$10,$B$12,$D$12,
$F$12,$H$12,$J$12,$B$14,$D$14,$F$14,$H$14,$J$14,$B$16,$D$16,$F$16,$H$16,
$J$16,$B$18,$D$18,$F$18,$H$18,$J$18,$L$3
Click to expand...


Gord Dibben Excel MVP - XL97 SR2 & XL2002
 
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