Adobe InDesign CS3
Working with Tabs
Tabs allow you to line up text vertically in a document. Text can be lined up in relation to the margins, to specific characters (e.g., a dollar sign) or to punctuation (e.g., quotation marks or bullets). For more options with tabs, refer to Additional Tab Options.
The Tab Panel
Tabs are set using the Tabs panel; this offers you a preview of the tab position and reveals options for the tab position and alignment.
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If the Tab panel is not displayed, from the Type menu, select Tabs
The Tabs panel appears.
NOTE: A checkmark will appear next to Tabs when the Tabs panel is displayed.
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OPTIONAL: To place the Tab panel directly above a selected text frame, click POSITION PANEL ABOVE TEXT FRAME
HINTS:
You must either have your cursor placed within the desired text frame or text selected within it.
Arrows on the Tab ruler will show a preview of where your tabs will be placed.
Setting Tabs
You can set left, center, right, decimal, or special character tabs. When you use the special character tab, you can align a tab to any character you choose.
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame in which you would like to apply a tab
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If the Tab panel is not displayed, from the Type menu, select Tabs
The Tabs panel appears.
NOTE: A checkmark will appear next to Tabs when the Tabs panel is displayed.
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From the Tab Alignment buttons, select the desired alignment
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On the Tab ruler, click the desired position for the tab
OR
In the X text box, type a new location
An arrow appears above the ruler to show where the tab has been set.
NOTE: Clicking more than once on the Tab ruler causes several tabs to be set. In order to move a tab after it has been set, click directly on the arrow and drag it to the new location. -
To align a section of text with your tab(s), place your insertion point at the beginning of each section and press [Tab]
The section(s) is aligned with the specified tab(s).
Moving Tabs
After you have a tab set, you can move it.
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame that contains the tab you would like to move
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If the Tab panel is not displayed, from the Type menu, select Tabs
The Tabs panel appears.
NOTE: A checkmark will appear next to Tabs when the Tabs panel is displayed.
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On the Tab ruler, select the tab to be moved
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On the Tab ruler, click and drag the tab to a new location
OR
In the X text box, type a new location
Deleting Tabs
If you have created a tab that is no longer needed,the tab can easily be deleted.
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame that contains the tab you would like to delete
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If the Tab panel is not displayed, from the Type menu, select Tabs
The Tabs panel appears.
NOTE: A checkmark will appear next to Tabs when the Tabs panel is displayed.
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On the Tab ruler, right click the tab to be deleted » select Delete Tab
OR
Click and drag it off of the Tab ruler
The tab is deleted.
