# 8.5. Using Tab Stops

Tab stops are a (very useful) holdover from the days of typewriters. They allow you to align text into columns quickly and easily.

When a tab stop is in place, you can immediatly jump to that horizontal position on the page by pressing the "Tab" key. Tab stops are most commonly used to allign columns in a table, or to automatically indent paragraphs.

Tab stops are part of the properties of a paragraph. Each paragraph keeps track of its own set of tab stops. You can view the tab stops of a particular paragraph by placing the mouse cursor within a paragraph, clicking once, and checking the top ruler. The tab stops are marked as symbols in black.

KWord recognises 4 types of tab stops. Each of these types has a corresponding symbol to help you identify the type in the ruler.

Type | Symbol | Description |
Right Tab Stop |  | With a right tab stop, the right edge of the next set of words is aligned at the tab stop.
|  | Example: |
Center Tab Stop |  | With a right tab stop, the text is centered at the tab stop.
|  | Example: |
Left Tab Stop |  | With a left tab stop, the left edge of the next set of words is aligned at the tab stop.
|  | Example: |
Decimal Tab Stop |  | With a decimal tab stop, the decimal points of the text are aligned at the tab stop.
|  | Example: |

## 8.5.1. Setting Tab Stops

Tab stops can be set one of two ways:

- Using the rulers of KWord

- Using a specialized dialog panel.

### 8.5.1.1. Using the Ruler

You can use the top ruler on KWord to interactively insert tab stops.

First, you should select the type of tab stop you want to use.

Place the mouse cursor over the current tab character (located directly to the left of the top ruler). Click once with the right button of the mouse. A small submenu will appear. You can select the tab stop you want from the sub menu.

| You can also use the left mouse button to cycle through the different types of tab stops. Click once on the current tab character, and the tab stop changes from "Left Tab Stop", to "Center Tab Stop". If you continue to click with the left mouse button, you will change to "Right Tab Stop", then to "Decimal Tab Stop", then back to "Left Tab Stop".

Once you have the correct type of tab stop, you can simply place the mouse cursor on the top ruler bar, and click once with the left mouse button. This will place a tab stop at that position.

### 8.5.1.2. Using the Dialog Box

The fastest way to get to the tab stop dialog panel, is to select Format->Paragraph from the Menu bar. This will bring up a dialog box with 5 tabs.

Click on the tab labled "Tabulators"

You can now add tab stops by:

1. Type the horizontal location of the tab stop in the space provided. The units are listed above the text box.

2. Select the type of tab stop from the list on the right.

3. Click Add.

When you are done adding tab stops, you can click "OK" to finish.

## 8.5.2. Moving Tab Stops

Tab stops can be moved one of two ways:

- Using the rulers of KWord

- Using a specialized dialog panel.

### 8.5.2.1. Using the Ruler

1. To move a tab stop with the ruler, place the mouse over the desired tab stop. The mouse cursor will change to a double arrow.

2. Click and hold down the right button on the mouse. Drag the tab stop to its new location

3. When the tab stop is where you want it, release the mouse button.

### 8.5.2.2. Using the Dialog Box

The fastest way to get to the tab stop dialog panel, is to select Format->Paragraph from the Menu bar. This will bring up a dialog box with 5 tabs.

Click on the tab labled "Tabulators"

You can now move tab stops by: !!!!!!!!!This is assumed, not working when written!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Click on the tab stop you want moved. The list of all tab stops is in the box on the left side of the dialog panel

2. Click "Modify".

3. Edit the horizontal location of the tab stop in the space provided. The units are listed above the text box.

4. If you need to make changes, select the type of tab stop from the list on the right.

5. Click "OK".

## 8.5.3. Removing Tab Stops

Tab stops can be removed one of two ways:

- Using the rulers of KWord

- Using a specialized dialog panel.

### 8.5.3.1. Using the Ruler

1. To delete a tab stop with the ruler, place the mouse over the desired tab stop. The mouse cursor will change to a double arrow.

2. Click and hold down the right button on the mouse. Drag the tab stop off the edge of the document.

3. Release the mouse button.

### 8.5.3.2. Using the Dialog Box

The fastest way to get to the tab stop dialog panel, is to select Format->Paragraph from the Menu bar. This will bring up a dialog box with 5 tabs.

Click on the tab labled "Tabulators"

You can now delete tab stops by: !!!!!!!!!This is assumed, not working when written!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Click on the tab stop you want moved. The list of all tab stops is in the box on the left side of the dialog panel

2. Click "Delete".

When you are done adding tab stops, you can click "OK" to finish.