Boston LegacyWorks LLC
  • Home
  • Services
  • Speaking
  • Free Computer Q&A (Third Place Commons)
  • LegacyTalk (Blog)
  • LegacyTech
  • Request Help
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map

Using Tab with Other Dedicated  Keys to Move  Around and Support Keyboard Input 


Picture
While people use  arrow keys often for moving within a document, they aren’t as helpful on web  pages or in many programs where you have to move between input areas, like  log-in or form fields. That is where the Tab key can  help.

 Pressing  Tab moves  from areas (technically called “controls") of a application window.This is called “shifting  the focus.”If you  use the Tab key repeatedly on this blog page,  it will start highlighting entry  areas, buttons and other parts of your web
browser where you can change or link  to something.Eventually it will move this blog’s title and add an outline to show that  title’s link has the focus.Pressing Tab will move that outline down through the page’s links,  including this link to a
blog that explains ways to make the focus on a link more obvious.If you modify the tab by using the Shift key, it will ump from link to  link in the opposite direction.

The most  valuable use of the Tab key is with input fields.When you are typing into more than one of these on a page, it can be confusing and time-comsuming to shift attention away from the keyboard to move to another field with the mouse.  The Tab key (and Shift-Tab)  provides great ways to
move between fields and just keep typing away.

Exercise  - Using Tab and Other Keys for Keyboard Entry

Here are some input  areas for you to try inputing and tabbing between.This is a little “sandbox” where you can play with Tab and other keys to add or modify the entries.If you prefer not to tab  all the way to the fields below, just click the mouse in the Name field and  start tabbing from there. Notice how outline changes with different fields.When it comes to different  field types, try  experimenting with your space bar and arrow keys to make  selections.  Keep track of the key that work best for you.  Then check out the Recap below to confirm your discoveries.

Name:

Another Input field:

Yet Another Input Field:

I am learning to:

I am learning to chose a radio buttons using
Tab Key Shift-Tab
Arrow Keys All of These Keys

Moving and choosing check boxes requires:
Tab key to move down the list.
Shift-Tab to move up the list.
Space Bar to "check" the item.

 

Recap


  • Use Tab and its counterpart, Shift-Tab, move the keyboard focus from one control (hyperlink, button, or input field) to another.
  • How the keyboard focus is shown depends on the control:
    • Hyperlinks show an outline form of highlighting
    • Text input fields show the flashing cursor
    • Other input fields or buttons show selected or an outline
  • If you move to input field that requires choice, other dedicated keys can help with that choice:
    • Drop-Down List Boxes use the Arrow Keys to make the selection
    • Radio Buttons use the Arrow Keys to move between the options and the Space Bar to make the selection
    • Check Boxes use the Tab key to move between the options and the Space Bar to make the selection
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.