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The CTRL+TAB, ALT, and F6 keyboard shortcuts work differently in the 2007 Office programs

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Symptoms

When you press one of the following keyboard shortcuts in a 2007 Microsoft Office program, the keyboard shortcut may work differently from what you expect:
  • CTRL+TAB
  • ALT
  • F6
For example, the following table describes the old behavior and the new behavior that occurs every time that you press these keyboard shortcuts.
Keyboard shortcutOld behavior in the earlier versions of the Office programsNew behavior in the 2007 Office programs
CTRL+TABIf the focus is on a command bar or on a task pane, CTRL+TAB moves the focus between the command bars and the task pane.If the focus is on a task pane, on a status bar, or on the Ribbon, CTRL+TAB moves the focus between the Ribbon, the status bar, and the task panes.
F6If the focus is on a command bar, F6 has no effect.

If the focus is not on a command bar, F6 moves the focus between the open task panes.		Moves the focus between the document, the Ribbon, the status bar, and any open task panes.
ALTMoves the focus between the first command bar and the document. The first command bar is typically the menu bar.Moves the focus between the Ribbon, the Quick Access Toolbar, and the document.

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Resolution

To move the focus to the location that you want in the 2007 Office programs, perform one or more of the following actions:
  • To work with the tabs and buttons on the Ribbon and on the Quick Access Toolbar, press ALT. When you press ALT, the focus moves to the Ribbon and to the Quick Access Toolbar. Each tab or button on the Ribbon or on the Quick Access Toolbar has a corresponding keyboard shortcut that is assigned to that tab or button. To move the focus to the appropriate tab or to the appropriate button, press the indicated keyboard shortcut.

    Note You cannot press CTRL+TAB as expected to move the focus to the tab or to the button that you want.
  • To work with the Ribbon, with an open task pane, with the status bar, or with the document, press F6 to move the focus to the appropriate area.
  • To work with the Ribbon, with the status bar, or with an open task pane if the focus is not in the document, press CTRL+TAB to move the focus to the Ribbon, to the status bar, or to an open task pane as needed.

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More information

For more information about the keyboard shortcuts in the 2007 Office programs, click Microsoft Office program Help or press F1. Then, type keyboard shortcuts in the Search box, and then click Search to view the topics that are returned.

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Keywords: KB928466, kbexpertisebeginner, kbprb, kbkeyaccel, kbtshoot

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Article Info
Article ID : 928466
Revision : 2
Created on : 10/15/2007
Published on : 10/15/2007
Exists online : False
Views : 387