Graphical interface normally reserve the TAB key to jump from one field to the other. Linuxconf uses the TAB key in text mode to jump from the dialog area to the button area. Using the GUI strategy would not work very well: Having to "tab" your way to the "Accept" button of a 20 lines dialog is simply unacceptable. Oddly the GUI standard is not acceptable either, but the mouse is saving the day here.
To move from one field to the next, you can use either the
DOWN ARRAY or the ENTER key. To move to the previous
field, use the UP ARROW