PPT2002: Tab Button Is Not Displayed When You Select Multiple Table Cells (278586)

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Insert a Word Table

You can insert a Word table, which supports all tab stops. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start PowerPoint 2002 and open your presentation.
2. On the Insert menu, click Object, and then click Microsoft Word Document.
3. On the Insert menu, click Table, select the number of columns and rows that you want to use, and then click OK. The Tab button appears at the left of the horizontal ruler. You can now set specific types of tab stops (including the left, right, center, or decimal tab stops) for an entire column by means of a single operation.

Add the Word Table Button

You can add the Insert Microsoft Word Table button to the toolbar to make the process of setting specific types of tab stops easier. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Customize.
2. Click the Commands tab, and then click Insert under Categories.
3. Scroll down though the Commands list, and then click Microsoft Word Table.
4. Drag Microsoft Word Table to the toolbar.
5. Click Close.

Set the Tab Stops for Each Cell Individually

This method is not practical to use on a large table, but if you have a table with only a few rows and columns, it may work adequately. To set the tab stops for each cell individually, follow these steps:

1. Start PowerPoint 2002 and open your presentation.
2. On the Insert menu, click Table, select the number of columns and rows that you want to use (or select an existing table), and then click OK.
3. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the first cell in the table, press CTRL+TAB to insert a tab character inside a table cell, and then type 3.14.
4. Click the Tab button at the left of the horizontal ruler repeatedly until the tab stop that you want to use appears.
   
   For this example, select the decimal tab stop button. (It looks like an upside down "T" with a dot on the right side.)
5. Click the horizontal ruler where you want to insert the tab stop.
6. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the second cell in the table, press CTRL+TAB to insert a tab character inside a table cell, and then type 3.142.
7. Click the horizontal ruler at the same location where you placed the tab stop in step 5.
8. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the third cell in the table, press CTRL+TAB to insert a tab character inside a table cell, and then type 3.1416.
9. Click the horizontal ruler at the same location where you placed the tab stop in step 5.
   
   Note that all of the numerical data in a list lines up according to the decimal point.