Comments on: Tab Leaders (Part 1): Separating Columns of Text with Dots http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php InDesignSecrets Blog and Podcast Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:33:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Rick http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-111071 Rick Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:51:35 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-111071 You can use up to seven characters in CS2 for tab leaders, but typically a space plus a period makes it nicely spaced. Once back to the text tool, you format the leaders, as a block, just like text. You can use up to seven characters in CS2 for tab leaders, but typically a space plus a period makes it nicely spaced. Once back to the text tool, you format the leaders, as a block, just like text.

]]> By: Eugene http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106072 Eugene Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:08:18 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106072 Mr. S. Burke wrote: “Tab Leaders” is a series of fairly beginner level posts in answer to reader questions InDesign Secrets has received." I was waiting till Part II to mention more advanced Tab Leaders. This was Part I and I didn't want to spoil it :D Mr. S. Burke wrote: “Tab Leaders” is a series of fairly beginner level posts in answer to reader questions InDesign Secrets has received.”

I was waiting till Part II to mention more advanced Tab Leaders. This was Part I and I didn’t want to spoil it :D

]]> By: Pariah S. Burke http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106043 Pariah S. Burke Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:23:11 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106043 Chris said: <blockqoute> <em>I have found that an even better solution is to use different underline styles instead of the leader function. Just apply an underline to the tab character (or even better use nested styles) - and this way you have a lot more control over how your leader will look.</em> </blockqoute> Yup, that's next week's installment. With this one, I taught the most basic means of achieving tab leaders in columnar text first (to establish a certain user comfort level). In the next installment I get a little more advanced, then a little more after that. "Tab Leaders" is a series of fairly beginner level posts in answer to reader questions InDesign Secrets has received. I just finished an advanced InDesign book (shameless plug: <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470114568/iampariahcom-20" rel="nofollow">Mastering InDesign CS3 for Print Design and Production</a></em>), began writing a new regular column in <em>InDesign Magazine</em> about workflow efficiency and InDesign productivity, migrated a newspaper from QuarkXPress and Word to InDesign and InCopy, and have written several intermediate to advanced InDesign, InCopy, and Illustrator articles. Oh! And I'm also developmental editing a title on scripting InDesign. I wanted a little break from the high-level stuff by writing a few posts here that were more beginner level. Chris said:

I have found that an even better solution is to use different underline styles instead of the leader function. Just apply an underline to the tab character (or even better use nested styles) - and this way you have a lot more control over how your leader will look.

Yup, that’s next week’s installment.

With this one, I taught the most basic means of achieving tab leaders in columnar text first (to establish a certain user comfort level). In the next installment I get a little more advanced, then a little more after that.

“Tab Leaders” is a series of fairly beginner level posts in answer to reader questions InDesign Secrets has received.

I just finished an advanced InDesign book (shameless plug: Mastering InDesign CS3 for Print Design and Production), began writing a new regular column in InDesign Magazine about workflow efficiency and InDesign productivity, migrated a newspaper from QuarkXPress and Word to InDesign and InCopy, and have written several intermediate to advanced InDesign, InCopy, and Illustrator articles. Oh! And I’m also developmental editing a title on scripting InDesign. I wanted a little break from the high-level stuff by writing a few posts here that were more beginner level.

]]> By: Eugene Tyson http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106028 Eugene Tyson Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:46:48 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106028 Forget it, I'm impressed fair to easily these days. I get it now. Forget it, I’m impressed fair to easily these days. I get it now.

]]> By: Eugene Tyson http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106024 Eugene Tyson Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:37:54 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106024 Ok that's freaky. I have no tabs, I inserted a flush space. Underlined it. Inserted a right indent tab and hey presto, I have a leader to the edge. How and why? Thanks Alexandre, that's really good. Ok that’s freaky. I have no tabs, I inserted a flush space. Underlined it. Inserted a right indent tab and hey presto, I have a leader to the edge. How and why? Thanks Alexandre, that’s really good.

]]> By: Alexandre Giesbrecht http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106023 Alexandre Giesbrecht Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:34:35 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-106023 It could also be done with a Flush Space with a dotted underline and zero offset. No need to set up the X field. It could also be done with a Flush Space with a dotted underline and zero offset. No need to set up the X field.

]]> By: Chris Gosling http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105913 Chris Gosling Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:36:09 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105913 I have found that an even better solution is to use different underline styles instead of the leader function. Just apply an underline to the tab character (or even better use nested styles) - and this way you have a lot more control over how your leader will look. I have found that an even better solution is to use different underline styles instead of the leader function. Just apply an underline to the tab character (or even better use nested styles) - and this way you have a lot more control over how your leader will look.

]]> By: Eugene Tyson http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105827 Eugene Tyson Tue, 21 Aug 2007 08:23:11 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105827 It is better to use a right indent tab, but only if you are using a leader once. Some times you may have several pieces of text tabbed that require a leader, so left aligning the text is very favourable and right aligning numbers is pleasant. A typical scenario for a lot of people is something like: 1......HEADING........2 1A......Heading......21 Requiring a left indent with a tab leader and a right indent tab for the numbers. What's interesting here is the leader is carried through for the right indent tab. Meaning that there is no need to insert another leader to create the (.) across the column. Whereas if I had used a right align tab instead of a Right Indent Tab I can control where the number stops without adjusting the measure of the column. As well as this, I can change what type of Leader I want for this particular Tab Stop, should I want to have two different leaders in the same column. It is better to use a right indent tab, but only if you are using a leader once. Some times you may have several pieces of text tabbed that require a leader, so left aligning the text is very favourable and right aligning numbers is pleasant. A typical scenario for a lot of people is something like:

1……HEADING……..2
1A……Heading……21

Requiring a left indent with a tab leader and a right indent tab for the numbers.

What’s interesting here is the leader is carried through for the right indent tab. Meaning that there is no need to insert another leader to create the (.) across the column.

Whereas if I had used a right align tab instead of a Right Indent Tab I can control where the number stops without adjusting the measure of the column. As well as this, I can change what type of Leader I want for this particular Tab Stop, should I want to have two different leaders in the same column.

]]> By: David Blatner http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105678 David Blatner Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:18:52 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105678 Dave, I agree; I like using Shift-Tab (or Type > Insert Special Character > Other > Right Indent Tab) for anything that goes to the right margin. On the other hand, if you want to make sure the leader goes only to a particular horizontal position, even if the text frame expands, then adding the tab stop makes sense. Dave, I agree; I like using Shift-Tab (or Type > Insert Special Character > Other > Right Indent Tab) for anything that goes to the right margin. On the other hand, if you want to make sure the leader goes only to a particular horizontal position, even if the text frame expands, then adding the tab stop makes sense.

]]> By: Dave Saunders http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105504 Dave Saunders Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:14:31 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/tab-leaders-part-1-separating-columns-of-text-with-dots.php#comment-105504 Isn't it better to use a right indent tab for this so that your text will automatically adjust should you need to change the column width? It will still pick up the leader of either the first tab past the right column or, if there isn't one, the last tab within the column. Try it out. Change the tabs in the sample to right indent tabs and the leader will still be there. Dave Isn’t it better to use a right indent tab for this so that your text will automatically adjust should you need to change the column width? It will still pick up the leader of either the first tab past the right column or, if there isn’t one, the last tab within the column.

Try it out. Change the tabs in the sample to right indent tabs and the leader will still be there.

Dave

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