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Set Tabs

Using the Document Editor, you can define left, right, center and decimal tab points to define the positions of text strings and columns across the page. A paragraph or highlighted block of text can have as many as twenty tab points, which apply to every line of the selected text.

If you do not set tab points, the Tab key moves the cursor to default tab points at 0.5-inch intervals.

Access From the 'Document-Edit > Paragraph' panel on the ribbon, drop-down the 'Paragraph' menu and choose one of:

  • Set Tab
  • Clear Tab
  • Clear All Tabs,

or click on the ruler at the top of the page.

Create and Clear Tab Points

Operation

Detail

See also

Using the ruler

If the ruler is not visible, select the option 'Document-Edit > File > View > Horizontal Ruler'.

To create a:

  • Left tab, click on the required tab position on the ruler; the left tab is indicated on the ruler by an 'L' shape
  • Right tab, right-click on the required tab position on the ruler; the right tab is indicated on the ruler by a reversed 'L' shape
  • Center tab, press Shift and click on the required tab position on the ruler; the center tab is indicated on the ruler by an inverted 'T' shape
  • Decimal tab, press Shift and right-click on the required tab position on the ruler; the decimal tab stop is indicated on the ruler by an inverted 'T' shape with a dot on the right hand side
    This tab is for numbers with a decimal point; numbers scroll left from the tab until you type the point, then numbers scroll right.

To move a tab position, click on the tab symbol on the ruler and drag it to the new position.

Using the Set Tab menu option

The 'Paragraph > Set Tab' menu option displays the 'Set a Tab Position' dialog, on which you select from a set of radio buttons to specify the tab type.

The dialog provides two advantages over the ruler; you can:

  • Set the tab position with more precision and with a clear value (in inches) that you can duplicate
  • Select from a set of radio buttons to add or remove a dotted, broken or solid line preceding the tab point

Click on the OK button to save the settings.

Clearing a single tab point

Highlight the block of text and select the 'Paragraph | Clear Tab' menu option.

The 'Clear a Tab Position' dialog displays.

Select the tab to clear and click on the OK button.

Clearing all tab points for a text block

Select the block of text and select the 'Paragraph | Clear All Tabs' menu option.

Notes

  • The option 'Document-Edit > File > Manage > Snap To Grid' affects the movement of the tabs (and the paragraph indentation markers) on the ruler; when you select this option, the movements of the tab markers are locked on to an invisible grid at intervals of 1/16 inch (half a ruler division)