Using Word Developer > Repeating Section Content Control - Tab stops working

Question

Using Word Developer > Repeating Section Content Control. I want my users to be able to use the Tab, so all fields use the Plain Text Content Control. However, when I put a Repeating Section control around several rows, the Tab key doesn't move between the enclosed fields anymore. Instead, it enters a Tab character at the beginning of the Repeating Section Control. Suggestions?

Answer 1

You might, instead, save your content as an AutoText entry or QuickPart and use that. You can attach a keyboard shortcut to such an entry.

• AutoText
• Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Word 2007-2021 (365)

I have not tried this but you might try editing the properties of the repeating section control that it not be edited. (This may lock all of your content; again, I do not know.)

Answer 2

I've tried to reproduce this (in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows 10) but the tab key does move the cursor from one plain text content control to the next, including from one repeating section to the next.

The only time I see the tab key inserting a tab character is when I press the tab key in the last plain text control in the last repeating section. Then the cursor goes to the beginning of the first repeating section, to the left of the first plain text control, and inserts a tab there. If this is your problem, then there is a macro solution using the ContentControlOnExit event handler. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/developer/office-xp/aa140279(v=office.10) if you need that.

Otherwise, I suspect there's more in your document than you've described. It will probably be necessary for you to post a sample document on OneDrive or another cloud storage site and post a sharing link to it here, so we can examine the problem and determine its cause.

Answer 3

I added the content control properties to cannot be deleted and cannot be edited and that worked! Thanks so much!