Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Setting Decimal Tabs in a Table Using the Keyboard.
If you love using the keyboard, you may wonder if there is a way to set decimal tabs in a table using the keyboard. Unfortunately, there is no simple, fast keystroke to set the decimal tabs. The best way is to use the regular accelerator keys that Word uses. You would follow these steps:
If you would rather not go through such an easy-to-remember process (grin), then you can also create a macro that will do the trick, and assign the macro to a shortcut key. The following is an example of a simple VBA macro that would do the job:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Sub SetDecimal()
Dim MyTab As String
MyTab = InputBox("Location (inches):", "Set Decimal Tab")
If Val(MyTab) > 0 Then
With Selection.ParagraphFormat.TabStops
.ClearAll
.Add Position:=InchesToPoints(Val(MyTab)), _
Alignment:=wdAlignTabDecimal, _
Leader:=wdTabLeaderSpaces
End With
End If
End Sub
This macro, which should be run after the cell or column is selected, prompts the user to enter a value for the new tab stop, clears all the existing tabs in the selection, and then sets the desired decimal tab stop.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11758) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Setting Decimal Tabs in a Table Using the Keyboard.
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