tab stops missing

O

OfficeNDN

I have word 2002.

The tab stop symbol is missing from the far left of the horizontal ruler. I
cannot set tab stops.

What is wrong?
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

Are you in Web Layout or Outline view? Either of those would make the tab
tool not show up.
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

If it doesn't show up in Normal or Print Layout view, then it's not a user
settings problem. It might be a registry corruption issue, which can
sometimes prevent screen elements from displaying correctly.

If you start Word with the /a switch (start - run - type winword.exe /a),
does the tab type character show up now?

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
 
O

OfficeNDN

Herb Tyson said:
If it doesn't show up in Normal or Print Layout view, then it's not a user
settings problem. It might be a registry corruption issue, which can
sometimes prevent screen elements from displaying correctly.

If you start Word with the /a switch (start - run - type winword.exe /a),
does the tab type character show up now?
Click to expand...

I ran winword.exe /a but still no tab stops.
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

The next thing I'd try would be to create a new Windows user profile, to see
if the problem exists for a new user, as well.

I don't remember whether Office 2002 has a "repair" option. If it does, have
you tried [something like] Help - Detect and Repair from Word's Help menu?

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
 
O

OfficeNDN

Suzanne S. Barnhill said:
Is the button there at all? If so, what happens when you click on it?
Click to expand...

This is no button there.

This also happens on all user accounts.
 
O

OfficeNDN

Suzanne S. Barnhill said:
Try Help | Detect and Repair.
Click to expand...

I have done the Help/Detect and Repair but this did not help.

I also did a complete uninstall/reinstall of the word program. I am
beginning to think that it's not word but something on my system.
 
O

OfficeNDN

I deleted the "Data" and then the "toolbars" in the registry as the article
recommended but I still have the problem.

But upon further investigation I have noticed that when I click on the
button where the tab is supposed to be that I can see a left tab but just
barely. It is only a slightly different shade of gray than the toolbar
background but it's there. But I still cannot insert a tab by clicking on
the ruler. I have to format/tabs and insert one from there.

Also my indentation markers are "grayed-out", they aren't the same color as
they were before this problem started (about a month ago) but I can still
move them around the ruler and they work.
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

I don't know if this suggestion has already been made... but are you sure
you aren't in web layout view?

If that's not the problem, are tabs otherwise disabled, as well? If you
choose Format - Paragraph, is the Tabs... button alive and well at the
bottom of the Paragraph dialog box?
 
O

OfficeNDN

I am in print layout view. I also switched to normal view and the problems
is still there too.

Fomat/Paragraphs and the tab button is still there. I can set a tab using
that method but even then the tab symbol is "grayed-out", it's just a shade
off from the toolbars.
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

If tabs weren't working at all, I would wonder if perhaps formatting
restrictions had been applied (limit formatting to a selection of styles).
Since tabs are working otherwise, that's not the problem.

I don't remember if I suggested this previously, so if I did, please pardon
the repetition. But... have you tried creating a new Windows User, and
seeing if the new user experiences the same problem?

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
 
W

Wally Wombat

Hi

I have just solved a similar problem in word 2003, where the tab button is
visible but when I clicked on the ruler it does not place a stop there, also
the indent button could not be moved.
I solved this by deleting the normal.dot template and letting word set
another one up.
Sorry if this is butting in, but sometimes off field things work.

Regards to all Wombat
 

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