Moving the cursor to the next tab stop with a keyboard key is a fairly simple process that can save you a lot of time. Whether you’re working on a spreadsheet, writing some code, or just typing, it can be useful to know how to quickly navigate through your document without the need for a mouse.
What is a Tab Stop?
A tab stop is a marker in a word processing document that indicates where the text should be aligned when the ‘tab’ key is pressed. Tab stops can be set for left-aligned, right-aligned, and center-aligned texts.
How to Move Cursor to Next Tab Stop with Keyboard
In order to move your cursor to the next tab stop with the keyboard, there are two methods, depending on your operating system.
For Windows
- Place the cursor where you want the next tab stop to be.
- Press and hold the Control key.
- Then press the Tab key.
- The cursor will move to the next tab stop and a tab character will be inserted.
For Mac
- Place the cursor where you want the next tab stop to be.
- Press and hold the Command key.
- Then press the Tab key.
- The cursor will move to the next tab stop and a tab character will be inserted.
FAQ
What is a tab stop?
A tab stop is a marker in a word processing document that indicates where the text should be aligned when the ‘tab’ key is pressed. Tab stops can be set for left-aligned, right-aligned, and center-aligned texts.
How do I move the cursor to the next tab stop?
For Windows, press and hold the Control key and then press the Tab key. For Mac, press and hold the Command key and then press the Tab key.
How can I change the tab stop?
To change the tab stop, press and hold the Control or Command key and press the Alt key (on Windows) or the Option key (on Mac). Then press the Tab key. This will open the Tab Settings window where you can set the tab stops.
How can I use the tab key to move between fields when filling out a form?
To move between fields when filling out a form, press the Tab key rather than using the mouse to click on a new field. This can save time when filling out forms.
What is the difference between a tab stop and a regular space?
A tab stop is a specific location in a document where text alignment can be set. A regular space is a single character that is created when you press the space bar.