OFF97: Problems Using Keyboard With Vertical Menus

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you use your keyboard to activate and maneuver between menus, you may not be able to open or switch between menus using your arrow keys.

CAUSE

The location of your menu bar (top, bottom, right, left, or floating) determines which arrow keys are required to open menus and select menu items.

RESOLUTION

If your menu bar is docked at the top or bottom of your screen or is floating, you can use the LEFT ARROW and RIGHT ARROW keys to activate different menus, and the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to activate menu items on a specific menu. If a menu is expanded to display its menu items, press the LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW keys to expand the menu items on the menu to the left and right of the current menu, respectively.

If your menu bar is docked on the left or right of your screen, you will have to use a different combination of arrow keys to activate menus and menu items. To open the first menu on the menu bar, press the ALT key, and then use your UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select different menus on the menu bar. After you select the desired menu, press the LEFT ARROW key to display the menu items for the selected menu. When the menu items are displayed, use your UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to move through them. After you highlight the desired menu item, press ENTER.

NOTE: If your menu bar is docked on the right or left and you display the menu items for a particular menu by pressing the LEFT ARROW key, you can press the LEFT ARROW key again to collapse the menu. At this point you can use your UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys to select another menu, if desired.

STATUS

This is by design of the Microsoft Office programs.