Comments on: Tab Stops in InDesign Tables

By: Paula Meyer

Paula Meyer — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:38:12 +0000

I work on a catalog of over 900 pages. We use a database to drop in all the text, graphics and tables using templates designed to bridge the gap between Database and InDesign. I have not found this information to benefit us since the column for pricing fluxuates between tables containing more or less information depending on the number of columns needed.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:29:11 +0000

Thank you … I also figured out what I was doing wrong. I was trying to set the tab on the actual ruler rather than the little slider right above the ruler. That’s why it would not take. Eh … still learning! I really like the fact that we have these help forums, though! I am a newbie at this so I am on this a lot! Thanks again!

By: c. umana

c. umana — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:57:37 +0000

Arlene: it works. It is a little trickie. Just insert the decimal align stop tab when the text is already selected. Don’t forget to right align the text in the colums, as centered text will not work. Center alignment overrules the tab action…

If you need text centered you may do it in the same tab panel moving to the left the rigth margin triangle or going to paragraph menu and adding a value to the right indent.

By: c. umana

c. umana — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:11:36 +0000

It seems this decimal align tab stop in cells can not be applied to paragraph or cell styles.

For a single table it is easy to manually center the aligned text in the cell, just manually centering the tab stop in the center of the cell. But with cells of different widths this seems impossible.

If the required design asks for centered text and decimal aligned, what a solution may be adopted for many instances? A script?

By: Arlene

Arlene — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:36:51 +0000

I’ve tried to use the tips above. I have InDesign CS5 and when I try to select a column in a table (numbers) and align for a decimal tab (using a marker of a right parenthesis), nothing is happening. If I click on the decimal tab button, I get the hand tool and I can’t click on the ruler to set the tab. I think I am missing a step but I can’t figure it out.

By: Sira

Sira — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:55:58 +0000

Thanks a lot, it was just what I was looking for!! It works perfectly!

By: David Blatner

David Blatner — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:17:02 +0000

@benny: Nope! Sigh.

By: benny

benny — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:03:31 +0000

is there a way to select multiple tab stops and edit them at the same time?

By: NE

NE — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:36:03 +0000

Just want to say thank you. I found this very helpful right now.

By: dann

dann — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:19:26 +0000

i,m sorry maybe it’s need to say that i am using Macintosh computer,,