Setting tab stops using the ruler

We use tabs to align data in our document.

One way of setting the tabs is by means of the ruler.

If you do not see this, select the “View” tab in the Ribbon, and select the “Ruler” check box, so that this is displayed.

To the left of the horizontal ruler (1) and above the vertical ruler (3), we find the tab selector(3).

The tab selector contains the different types of tabs, that we can use in our document.

	The left tab stop is used to set the starting position of text, which is from the left so that text is entered from left to right while typing.
	With the help of the center tab stop, we set the position of the text to the center. While typing the text, it is centered at this position.
	With a decimal tab stop, we align numbers with respect to the decimal point. The point remains in the same position, regardless of the number of digits.
	With a line tab stop, a vertical bar is inserted wherever this tab is placed.
	The right tab stop is used to set the starting position of text, which is from the right so that text is entered from right to left while typing.
	First line indent.
	Hanging indent.

By default, the left tab stop is set.

By clicking on the tab selector, we can easily change the type of tab.

 

To set a tab in the ruler, first select the type of tab with the help of the tab selector, and then click on the position where it is to be placed in the ruler.
The cursor will automatically move to the next tab when you press the tab key on your keyboard. All data can be properly aligned in this way.

1. left-aligned
2. centered
3. right-aligned
4. decimal tab stop
5. Line tab stop

 

Setting tab stops using the dialog box:

A second way of seting tab stops is by means of the Left tab stop dialog box.

Click on the downward pointing arrow next to the “Paragraph” section(1).

This opens the “Paragraph” (2) dialog box, where you click on the “Tabs” (3) button, which is located at the bottom left of the dialog box.

The different tab stops(4) that we have read about in the previous section of this lesson are displayed in this dialog box.

To remove any tab stop, select it in the list, and click the “Clear” button.

Now to give the tab a position,eg 1 cm, in the “Tab stop position” text box, select the alignment for the tab and click “Set”.

Click the “OK” button when you finish setting up all your tabs.

To remove all tabs, click the “Clear All” button. But I think you already know that.

 

To move tabs, you can click and drag them to the ruler.
To remove tabs, click and drag them to the document.

 

Leader characters between tabs

The easiest way that will help you read data from your document is to place Leader characters between the different tabs.

 

The default setting is set to “None”.

If you want to insert a leader between tabs, select the tab (1) in the Tabs dialog box where you want to add leader characters.

Select the type of tab leader you wish to add(2).

Then click the “Set” (3) button.

 

Click OK when you have finished making changes.

 

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