Adobe InDesign CS3
Additional Tab Options
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 marks (e.g., quotation marks or bullets). The example below shows how the left, center, and right tab alignments appear when used. For more information about tabs, refer to Working with Tabs.
Repeating Tabs
The Repeat Tab command repeats a tab based on specifications for the first tab.
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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.
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To have this tab repeat, with it still selected in the Tabs ruler, from the Tabs panel, click MENU
» select Repeat Tab
The tab repeats at this interval. -
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).
Creating a Decimal Tab
A decimal tab aligns the tab on a decimal point or another specified character.
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame in which you would like to apply a decimal 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, click ALIGN TO DECIMAL
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OPTIONAL: In the Align On text box, type a new character for the tab to align on
NOTE: Make sure the paragraphs you are aligning contain the character you specified. -
On the Tab ruler, click the desired position for your tab
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To align a section of text with your tab, place your insertion point at the beginning of the section and press [Tab]
The tab is aligned to the first occurrence of the specified character in the paragraph.
Adding a Tab Leader
A tab leader repeats a pattern of characters between text and the following tab. It literally leads the reader to the information at the next tab. Tab leaders are especially useful for table of contents; a tab leader is inserted between the section title and the page number.
EXAMPLE: Table of Contents...................2
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame in which you would like to apply a tab leader
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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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In the Leader text box, type a pattern of characters to be used as the tab leader
NOTE: The maximum number of characters the leader can contain is eight. -
On the Tab ruler, click where you want the tab(s) inserted
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To align a section of text with your tab(s), place your insertion point at the beginning of each section and press [Tab]
A tab leader is inserted between the text and the following tab.
Changing Tab Alignment
Once tabs are created, you can change their alignment.
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Select the paragraph(s) or text frame that contains the tab you would like to change
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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 changed
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Click the desired Tab Alignment button
