How do I make text boxes that link to one another in Word 2007?

[delores]

I have created multiple text boxes that when data is entered, they expand
horizontally to fit the text. But now I want to link the text boxes together
so that I can enter the data and when done, "tab" to the next box. I have
tried the 'link text boxes' and it creates a link but then the information
from the first text box carries forward into the next text box. As well, the
text box no longer expands to fit the text.

I was wondering if there is a way to do both of these commands at the same
time (expand the boxes and then tab between them)? If I can't do this in
Word 2007 is there another program such as Excel or Access that would allow
me to do this?

Thanks!

 

[Tom Conrad]

You can't do both at the same time.

Both functions are checking for when the text box has filled the container.
The linking function takes precedent over the re-size function.

The auto re-size function enlarges the text box, the container, when the
container is too small for its contents.

The linking function connects one text box to the next text box, to the...
If the link is broken then the text reverts to the first box in the chain.

Perhaps a VBA guru can write a third function that expands the text box, up
to a certain size, and then links to a second text box.