How to use tabs in the Description screen

Target audience:
Users working with the Description screen to format and align text using tab stops.

Core purpose:
To guide users on how to use and customize tab stops in the Description screen for better text alignment and formatting.

Introduction

Tabs in the Description screen help you align text precisely using preset positions called tab stops. This article walks you through how to use the TAB key, set default and individual tab stops, and manage them using the Tabs window or the Ruler.

Using the TAB key

To insert a tab in the Description screen:

• Place your cursor where you want to insert the tab.
• Press the TAB key on your keyboard.

This inserts a tab at the next tab stop position.

Change tab settings

1. Open the Tabs window

• Place the cursor where you want the new tab settings to apply.
  • If you want the settings to apply to a specific section, select that text.
• Right-click to open the context menu.
• Choose Format > Tabs.

The Tabs window will appear.

2. Set default tab stops

• In the Tabs window, locate the Default tab stops field.
• Enter the spacing (in inches) between each default tab stop.
  • This setting applies to all new tabs unless individual tab stops are defined.

3. Set individual tab stops

To create a custom tab stop:

1. In the Tab stop position field, enter the position (in inches) where you want the tab.
2. Choose an Alignment:
   • Left: Aligns text to the left of the tab stop.
   • Center: Centers text on the tab stop.
   • Right: Aligns text to the right.
   • Decimal: Aligns numbers by their decimal point.
3. Choose a Leader (optional):
   • Adds dots, dashes, or lines to fill the space before the tabbed text.

Once added, individual tab stops appear on the Ruler.

4. Adjust tab stops on the Ruler

• Drag individual tab stop markers on the Ruler to reposition them.
• Note: Default tab stops do not appear on the Ruler.

Remove tab stops

From the Tabs window:

• Open the Tabs window via Format > Tabs.
• Select a tab stop and click Clear to remove it.
• Click Clear All to remove all individual tab stops.

From the Ruler:

• Drag the tab stop marker off the Ruler to remove it.

Important notes

• Tab settings apply from the cursor position downward unless text is selected.
• Decimal tabs are ideal for aligning numbers with decimal points.
• Default tab stops are not visible on the Ruler.