About Tabs

A tab is a pre-defined horizontal space between text entries in your letter. Rather than spacing text across the page by repeatedly tapping the space bar, it is more efficient to add tabs via the Tab key; tabs keep text perfectly aligned in columns, whereas using the space bar to position text in columns may result in uneven columns when printed because of the proportional spacing characteristics of most fonts.

The following example shows how tabs can be used to align prices of items in a shopping list. Notice how each price aligns perfectly with the previous one using the decimal point as the center of alignment. Notice also that the tab position marker (above the ruler) is that of a Decimal tab as opposed to a Left tab (the default).

By default, 14 left-aligned tab stops are set at one-centimetre intervals from the left margin (as seen in the image above). By pressing the Tab key on your keyboard, the cursor jumps to the next tab stop in the line.

There are four types of tab available;

o      Left - Enables text to be left-aligned, extending out to the right.

o      Right - Enables text to be right-aligned, extending out to the left.

o      Decimal - Aligns text to a decimal place, as seen in the previous image. The text item must contain a decimal place for this to be effective.

o      Centre - Enables text to be center-aligned, extending out in both directions.

Adding, Deleting and Modifying Tab Stops (Method 1)

1.      Position the cursor within the paragraph that contains the tab stop you wish to modify.

 

2.      Remove the tab you no longer need by clicking on the associated tab spot marker (above the ruler) and dragging it off the ruler.

3.      To add a tab stop to the ruler, select the type of tab you want to add from the set of Tab buttons on the Formatting toolbar. These tab buttons are for Left-aligned tabs, Right-aligned, Decimal and Center-aligned, respectively.

4.      Click on the tab bar above the ruler to place the new tab. Whilst you hold down the mouse button you should notice a measurement figure appear to the far left of the tabs set. This is the distance from the margin, and helps you to set your tab stop correctly.

 

5.      Release the mouse button. Your tab stop is now set in place. You can move this tab (and others) horizontally along the tab bar to suit.

Adding, Deleting and Modifying Tab Stops (Method 2)

1.      Ensure the insert point is within the paragraph that contains the tab stop(s) you wish to format.

2.      Select Format > Tabs. The Tabs window appears.


The list of tab stop positions appears, the format of each reflecting those of the currently-selected paragraph in your letter.

 

3.      (Optional) To modify an existing tab stop;

o      Select the Tab Stop position you wish to edit, by either;

•       Typing in the tab stop position (e.g. 40), or

•       Selecting the tab stop position.

 

o      Change the alignment of the tab stop.

 

4.      (Optional)To add a tab stop;

o      Enter the tab stop position manually by typing a figure (in millimetres) for the distance you wish it to appear from the margin.

o      Select an alignment for the tab stop.

 

5.      To remove a tab stop;

o      Select the Tab Stop position you wish to remove, by either;

•       Typing in the tab stop position (e.g. 40), or

•       Selecting the tab stop position.

 

o      Click to remove it from the list. You can also remove all tab stops from the selected paragraph by clicking

 

6.      Click OK to confirm your alterations.