Automatic tab stops in Excel

Question

In Excel, how do I set the tab stop at the first information prompt, then have it move in a specified way in order to enter information, and when I am finished entering information and hit enter, it automatically goes to the next prompt?

For example see below:

1. Start position is cell A5.
2. When I am done entering information in cell A5 and hit enter, it should automatically move to move to cell B2 and prompt me to enter info.
3. I may need to move left, right, up or down from any position.
4. When I finish entering all information, it should move to the last cell Z117 on the page.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You,

Bill

Answer 1

Hello Bill,

There are no options within the Excel application in order to get the automatic tab stop.

This feature would be better achieved by using VBA or macro in Excel.

For assistance on Macros or VBA coding, you may post your query in the Office Programming forum link mentioned below:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_2007-customize?tm=1370013736454

Thank you.

Answer 2

There is a way to do it, although depending on your sheet it may be a little clumsy.

Once you have your sheet the way you want it, CTRL A to select all cells in the sheet, right click on the sheet and select Format Cells from the menu.  Under the Protection tab, check Locked, and close the dialog box.

Deselect the cells, then collectively select the cells that you want to be able tab to (and edit).  Once they are all selected, right click in one of the selected cells and head back to Format Cells --> Protection, and uncheck Locked.  Close dialog.

Then, in the Review tab of the ribbon, select Protect Sheet.

You will then be able to edit the cells that you have left unlocked, and Excel will only tab through these cells (Tab works better than Enter for moving contiguously through cells).  Freeing up the sheet for editing is as easy as deselecting the Protect Sheet option again.