Business Computing Tips

By K&K Fainges kfainges@...

Tabs allow you to place your text wherever you want it. Just like the
old tab markers on a typewriter, you can 'set' the tab just where you
want them to make sure each line of your writing exactly lines up
with the ones above it.

The most often used Tab is the paragraph tab, those first few spaces
before each new paragraph. You can used the default one set by Word
and just hit the tab key on your keyboard, or you can place your tabs
by single clicking in the ruler where you want them to be. If you
can't see a ruler at the top of the page, go up to VIEW => RULER and
click to put a tick beside the word ruler.

You can place as many tabs as you want to make columns or tables, but
I strongly recommend not using tabs for this. The reason is that if
the reader opens it in anything but your version of word, it looks
like complete gobbledy gook. Use a table instead and just take out
all the borders. It looks just the same, is easier, and stays put in
other formats.

If you do want to use them though, using FORMAT => TABS, allows you
to be precise. You can get to the same dialogue box (the bit that
pops up when you click on FORMAT => TABS, by clicking on the rule to
make a tab, then double clicking on the tab maker (a little L shape
on the rule).

This area lets you be precise, typing in an exact distance, setting
what the alignment of text will be after that tab (letting you make a
table where text is down the left of the 'column' and numbers
formatted to the right) and whether there are dots or dashes leading
up to the tab i.e.

.... adgti[ojho

You can also clear tabs. So if your writing starts going weird, this
may be one of the places to go to fix it.

Next week: more formatting.

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Please feel free to pass it on to your friends, just let them know I
wrote it.

Karen Fainges holds a Bachelor of Business, and a Grad. Cert of
Vocational and Educational Training. All this is nice but it's the 14
years of having to make sales or starve that makes her think she has
really learnt what does and doesn't work. A tutor for all ages, she
specialises in helping people get started on the long road to
technology.

"It has to be practical, it has to be cheap, and it has to work."