Microsoft KB Archive/71926

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Decimal Tabs Within a Table Don't Behave Normally

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Q71926

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

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SYMPTOMS
Decimal tab stops do not behave normally in a table.

Situation 1:

"When you set a single decimal tab in a Word for Windows table cell, the CTRL+TAB key combination within that cell does not work in the usual manner as expected. By contrast, when you set multiple tabs in the cell of which one is a decimal tab, the decimal tab works as expected when you press CTRL+TAB." Situation 2:

"If the default paragraph formatting is set to either centered or right alignment, decimal tab settings will not align properly within a table."

CAUSE
Situation 1:

This behavior is by design in Word. When a decimal tab is the only custom tab setting in a table cell, you do not have to press CTRL+TAB to go to the tab stop. Word moves automatically to this tab when you enter the cell if the decimal tab is the first tab in the cell. On the other hand, if the cell contains a nondecimal tab before the decimal tab, you must press CTRL+TAB to go to the decimal tab stop, as usual.

In a table cell that contains a single decimal tab, if you press CTRL+TAB, the insertion point moves to the next default tab stop following the decimal tab.

Outside a table cell, decimal tabs behave in the expected, usual manner. Situation 2:

"This is by design, decimal tab settings will only align correctly if the text alignment is set to either left or justified."