Please note : This help page is not for the latest version of Enterprise Architect. The latest help can be found here.

Set Tabs

Using the RTF Editor, you can define left, right, center and decimal tab points to define the positions of text strings and columns across the page. A paragraph or highlighted block of text can have as many as twenty tab points, which apply to every line of the selected text.

If you do not set tab points, the [ Tab ] key moves the cursor to default tab points at 0.5-inch intervals.

Access    Select Paragraph | Set Tab from the menu bar at the top of the Document Editor window, or right-click and select Paragraph | Set Tab within either:
 
                 -  The Content panel of the Document Template Designer or
                 -  The text area of the document

                 Or click on the ruler at the top of the page.

Create and Clear Tab Points

Topic

Detail

See also

Using the ruler

If the ruler is not visible, select the View | Horizontal Ruler context menu option.

To create a:

Left tab, click on the required tab position on the ruler; the left tab is indicated on the ruler by an L shape
Right tab, right-click on the required tab position on the ruler; the right tab is indicated on the ruler by a reversed L shape
Center tab, press (Shift) and click on the required tab position on the ruler; the center tab is indicated on the ruler by an inverted T shape
Decimal tab, press (Shift)  and right-click on the required tab position on the ruler; the decimal tab stop is indicated on the ruler by an inverted T shape with a dot on the right hand side
 
This tab is for numbers with a decimal point; numbers scroll left from the tab until you type the point, then numbers scroll right.
 

To move a tab position, click on the tab symbol on the ruler and drag it to the new position.

 

 

Using the Set Tab menu option

The Paragraph | Set Tab menu option displays the Set a Tab Position dialog, on which you select from a set of radio buttons to specify the tab type.

The dialog provides two advantages over the ruler; you can:

Set the tab position with more precision and with a clear value (in inches) that you can duplicate
Select from a set of radio buttons to add or remove a dotted, broken or solid line preceding the tab point

Click on the OK button to save the settings.

 

 

Clear a single tab point

Highlight the block of text and select the Paragraph | Clear Tab menu option.

The Clear a Tab Position dialog displays.

Select the tab to clear and click on the OK button.

 

 

Clear all tab points for a text block

Select the block of text and select the Paragraph | Clear All Tabs menu option.

 

 

Notes

The Other | Snap To Grid menu option affects the movement of the tabs (and the paragraph indentation markers) on the ruler; when you select this option, the movements of the tab markers are locked on to an invisible grid at intervals of 1/16 inch (half a ruler division)