Microsoft Word 2000, Tabs and Tabbed Columns ITSW 1401, Intro to Word Processing Instructor: Glenda H. Easter

Some Definitions Please Tabs are a paragraph-formatting feature that you use to create columns and business documents. A tab is a set amount of space that is used to align text. When you press the Tab key, Word inserts a character . Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Some Definitions Please (Continued) Word moves the insertion point to the tab setting, called the tab stop. You can set tabs or use Word’s default settings. Tab settings are stored in the paragraph mark at the end of a paragraph. Each time you press Enter, the tabs and their settings are copied to the next paragraph. You can set tabs before you key text or set tabs for existing text. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Setting Tabs Word defaults to ½ inch from the left margin for tabs. If you wish to change the tabs, you can either change the distance between the default tab stops, or create custom tabs. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Custom Tabs There are four types of custom tabs that you can create: Left Aligned Centered Right-Aligned Decimal-Aligned Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Tabs Using the Tabs Dialog Box Select Format from the menu. Select Tabs Type the position desired for your tab. Select the type of alignment for that tab. Click the Set button. If no additional tabs need to be set, click Okay. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Tabs Using the Ruler Click the tab alignment button on the left side of the ruler bar. Each time you click it, it changes to a different type of alignment. Right – Centered Left – Decimal Tab After selecting the type of alignment, click the position on the ruler bar. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Tabs Using the Ruler (Continued) When you point your mouse and click here, you can change the type of tab before setting the tab. In this case, wherever the tab is set, it will become a Center tab. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Selecting Show/Hide Displays the Tabs Used Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Custom Tabs When you set a custom tab, Word clears all default tabs to the left of the new tab marker. The default tab is a Left Tab. A Decimal Tab can be used to line up decimals or for dot leaders to guide the eyes of the reader

Setting Custom Tabs (Continued) A first line indent will indent the first line following a paragraph symbol (Enter). Creates a Center Tab Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Custom Tabs (Continued) Creates a Hanging Indent Tab A Bar Tab is used in creating a table-like affect on tabbed columns A Right-Aligned Tab will align the text to the right of the tab stop

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Setting Custom Tabs with the Ruler Bar Note below that there is one left-align tab set at 1.5, a center tab at 3.0, and two right aligned tabs at 4.0 and 5.0 Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Setting Dot Leaders You can set tabs with leader characters, which are patterns of dots or dashes that lead the reader’s eye from one tabbed column to the next. Word offers three leader patterns: Dotted Line Dashed Line Solid Line Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Dot Leaders (Continued) Select Format/Tabs Type position of tab in the Tab Stop Position. Select Decimal Select the type of dot leader you wish to use. Click Set, and Ok Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Clearing Tabs You can clear custom tabs individually or all at once. Three ways to clear a tab: Use the Tab dialog box. Use the ruler to drag the tab off. Press Ctrl/Q. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Adjustments to Tab Settings When you change tab settings with the ruler, be careful to drag the tab marker only to the right or to the left. If you drag the tab marker up or down, you might clear it from the ruler. When you press Alt while positioning the pointer on the tab marker, Word displays the tab stop measurements. (Alt/Drag) Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Determining the Longest Line Type the longest line in each of the columns and space between six to ten spaces in between each column heading. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Creating Tabbed Columns Tabbed Column: A tabbed column is a side-by-side vertical list of information. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Rules for Setting Up Tabbed Columns Center the table horizontally within the margins. Leave between 6 to 10 spaces between each column. Do not allow the table width the exceed the width of a document’s body text. Leave at least one blank line before and after the table when used with text. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Up the Table for the Longest Line Type the longest line in each column, spacing between 6-10 spaces. Scroll the line directly beneath the ruler, and set tabs visually. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Setting Up the Table for the Longest Line--A Closer Look Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Selecting A Tabbed Column To select a vertical block of text, hold the Alt key while dragging the mouse down. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Insert Bar Tabs A Bar Tab: Inserts a vertical line at a fixed position, creating a border between columns. Bar Tabs are used to make the text appear more like a table. You can only set a bar tab using the ruler or using the Tabs Dialog Box. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Creating Bar Tabs Highlight text and select Format/Tabs Type Tab Position desired. Click Bar Button Click Set Click OK Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Sorting Paragraphs and Tabbed Columns Sorting is the process of reordering text alphabetically or numerically. Text can be sorted in ascending order (such as 0 - 9). It can also be sorted in descending order (Z-A). Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Tabs and Tabbed Columns Sorting Tabbed Tables Choose Sort from the Table Menu. The first dialog box (Sort By) is the primary key. Next you sort by the second key. Lastly you sort by the third key. Please note that because you selected the column headings with your text, you can sort by the data in each column. Tabs and Tabbed Columns

Sorting to Include Header Row and Column Headings You can sort by the column heading, and it automatically changes the type of sort based on the content of the column. When you click Header Row, it indicates that the sorted text is to include the column headings. Tabs and Tabbed Columns