Unwanted Tab Formatting

[Guest]

Greetings

As I am working on a document with several columns, I use the TAB key to advance from one column to another across the page. As if MS Word has a mind of its own, the TAB settings start to change on their own. Tabs start to appear where I don't want them. Then the program becomes possessed and when I press the TAB key entire bodies of text move across the screen with the TAB. I press the Backspace key and am able to "fix" the problem for that line only yet the next line acts up and on and on and on.

I HATE THE TAB SETTING THING...... WHERE IS MY TYPEWRITTER

I do not know how to get this tab "thing" to stop. Everyday I am frustrated. I usually end up pressing the space bar to line up columns because MS Word is creating TAB spacing on its own and I don't know how to stop it

HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP

 

[Guest]

Are you using the Columns button in the toolbar to insert the columns, or are you using Tables with two columns, or do you have Tabs setup? Using Tables will allow you to use the Tab key to switch to the next cell (or column). Same with adding Tabs. You may want to try using the Columns feature of Word. Create a new file, click on the Columns button (looks like a sheet of newspaper), and go to Insert->Break->Column Break and type before the break.

 

[Bill Foley]

Do NOT use TABs to create your columns of data, use TABLES. Right-click
your toolbar area and click the "Tables and Borders" toolbar. Move it up
and dock it in a desired location to see all tool icons. Click "Table",
"Insert", "Table. Set the number of columns and rows you need. Select your
table and click the dropdown arrow next to the "Borders" icon and select the
"No borders" option. You should see gridlines for all of your cells of your
table. If you don't, click "Table", "Show gridlines".

Now all you have to do is TAB to each new cell on a row and TAB from there
to the next row. No manually setting of TABs, etc. You can also click the
column gridline, hold your mouse button and size each column as you wish.

Hope this helps your frustration!

--
Bill Foley, Microsoft MVP (PowerPoint)
www.pttinc.com
Check out PPT FAQs at: http://www.rdpslides.com/pptfaq/

Greetings:

As I am working on a document with several columns, I use the TAB key to

advance from one column to another across the page. As if MS Word has a
mind of its own, the TAB settings start to change on their own. Tabs start
to appear where I don't want them. Then the program becomes possessed and
when I press the TAB key entire bodies of text move across the screen with
the TAB. I press the Backspace key and am able to "fix" the problem for
that line only yet the next line acts up and on and on and on.

I HATE THE TAB SETTING THING...... WHERE IS MY TYPEWRITTER?

I do not know how to get this tab "thing" to stop. Everyday I am

frustrated. I usually end up pressing the space bar to line up columns
because MS Word is creating TAB spacing on its own and I don't know how to
stop it.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Nick and Bill are right: you want a table for this. But to cure your
immediate problem, do the following:

Word 2000 and earlier: On the Edit tab of Tools | Options, clear the check
box for "Tabs and backspace set left indent."

Word 2002 and above: On the AutoFormat As You Type tab of Tools |
AutoCorrect Options, clear the check box for "Set left- and first-indent
with tabs and backspaces."

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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Greetings:

As I am working on a document with several columns, I use the TAB key to

advance from one column to another across the page. As if MS Word has a
mind of its own, the TAB settings start to change on their own. Tabs start
to appear where I don't want them. Then the program becomes possessed and
when I press the TAB key entire bodies of text move across the screen with
the TAB. I press the Backspace key and am able to "fix" the problem for
that line only yet the next line acts up and on and on and on.

I HATE THE TAB SETTING THING...... WHERE IS MY TYPEWRITTER?

I do not know how to get this tab "thing" to stop. Everyday I am

frustrated. I usually end up pressing the space bar to line up columns
because MS Word is creating TAB spacing on its own and I don't know how to
stop it.

 

[Guest]

Please, let me be more specific.

I start a new word processing document. It is a blank page for word processing. I have changed nothing in the defalt settings from the "factor". I begin to type, I press the TAB key to advance to the next default TAB setting, I type the necessary information and press TAB key again to advance to the next default setting, type again. When I am finished with that line I press return.

I am on a new line, I begin to type, I press the TAB key to advance to the next default TAB setting, I type the necessary information and press TAB key again to advance to the next default setting, type again. When I am finished with that line I press return. I want my word processing document to appear in neat columns that is why I use the TAB key.

All of a suddun, without warning, MS Word goes NUTS. The once default TAB "factory" settings are now no longer set. It is impossible to use the "factory settings". It is as if the TAB key has lost its mind and wants to format the word processing document with whatever TAB settings are incorrect for my word processing document. I HATE THIS! Sorry for yelling but it happens everyday, all the time and I don't know how to stop it.

I want the TAB settings to stay normal as when I opened the word processing document with a blank page. I don't know how to keep it normal. I am about to revert back to a typewritter where I know I can set my TAB key and it won't mysteriously change on me without warning.

Help Please......

Cameron

 

[Guest]

I will try this..... thanks

And thanks for the immediate help

Tables, who knew.....

Cam