Word for Microsoft 365: Can't move to next text box by pressing Tab

James Kardys 0 Reputation points
2024-06-10T13:32:15.43+00:00

Before we begin, I would like to disclose that I am using Version 2405 Build 16.0.17628.20006, 32-bit.

I am trying to create a document where you can move from one text box to the next by hitting Tab. I put in Plain Text Content Controls, and I can move from one text box to the next... but only if they are on the same paragraph. If the next text box is in a subsequent paragraph, I have to click on it in order to type in anything.

Is there any way to fix this?

Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365
Formerly Office 365, is a line of subscription services offered by Microsoft which adds to and includes the Microsoft Office product line.
4,205 questions
Word
Word
A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.
733 questions

3 answers

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  1. Stefan Blom 2,131 Reputation points MVP
    2024-06-10T16:45:45.96+00:00

    Is it possible that some of the content controls are inside text boxes? You won't be able to tab into a text box (because it is in a different text layer).

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. James Kardys 0 Reputation points
    2024-06-10T15:33:23.87+00:00

    I just tried Office Repair, and I got mixed results. Sometimes it works other times it doesn't. It's inconsistent to say the least.

    0 comments
  3. Charles Kenyon 2,681 Reputation points
    2024-06-10T16:49:47.29+00:00

    It is also possible that the Content Control is a Rich Text control. To check, try changing the formatting of something inside the control to bold, without changing everything in the control.

    Rich text controls do not let you tab out.

    Note that the term "text box" can be confusing, at least to me. What I think of as a textbox is a graphical element as mentioned by Stefan. These are in a different layer of the document. Frames and Textboxes in Microsoft Word

    Many people use "text box" to refer to a place for people to type data as in a Content Control or formfield. These are entirely different.