Tip 326: Change the Contacts Tab Order

Ann asks:

Is there a way to change the order of the tabs as you enter new information for a new contact…i.e, it tabs from Name to Title to Company then it jumps to the phone/fax/mobile fields and then back to the address. Can it be changed to tab from Name to Title to Company and then directly to address…then to phone fields?

Yes, you can change the tab index (order). Keep in mind if you use Outlook 2003, you'll lose the image on the Contacts form and will revert back to the look of the form found in older versions when you edit the first page of the form.

You need to open the form in Design mode (Tools, Forms, Design a form),
then:

Select the Address button, then Forms, Advanced properties.
Locate Tab Index and change it to a different number.
Click on the Address text box and change the tab index value to the next higher number (from the one used for the Address button).
Run the form to test (Tools menu)

The other field's Tab indexes should adjust accordingly, if not you'll need to change them also.

Alternately, you can click the Tab Order button and change the order of many fields at once. Select a field and move it up or down.