Can't indent twice!

[donnylaja]

We are struggling with the changeover to Word 2000, made necessary
because with our new network software WordPerfect kept crashing.

In creating legal documents it is important to keep manual control of
numbering and lettering. This is because we are often quoting from the
middle of other documents, and we often have to start with (say)
subparagraph "r", skip to "t", and go on to sub-subparagraph (iii),
etc.

I see that to indent after a number or letter, you type the number or
letter, hit TAB, then CTRL+T (hanging indent), and type. The text
wraps around and you get an evenly indented paragraph after the letter
number. For example:

2. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
blah blah blha blha blha alah alhaal bla ha lh.

3. Blah lahg lha a blh ablh a blh blah blah blh alh
l alh lha lha lah .

etc.

But this doesn't work if you want to indent twice. What I want is:

3. a. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

b. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
blah blah blah blah

After hitting the TAB after "a.", I hit CTRL+T -- but then the "a" gets
indented too. Further, only the first line indents twice -- the text
then wraps back to the first indent. Hitting CTRL+M is even worse
because the "3" gets indented as well.

Making a doubly indented paragraph is a routine, everday task, and I
assume the solution must be simple too. How do I get it to indent
twice without indenting the number and letter too?

 

[TF]

The first and most important rule regarding numbering in Word is not to use
any of the built in tools on the toolbars. They are only any use for the
simplest of documents. Word's numbering is far from easy to use (that's the
polite way to say it), but if you go to the following link and read it
carefully, you will be able to get a grasp on the problems. You'll find
loads of other useful information at the site too, including some tips for
WordPerfect users struggling to adapt to Word.

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Numbering/WordsNumberingExplained.htm



: We are struggling with the changeover to Word 2000, made necessary
: because with our new network software WordPerfect kept crashing.
:
: In creating legal documents it is important to keep manual control of
: numbering and lettering. This is because we are often quoting from the
: middle of other documents, and we often have to start with (say)
: subparagraph "r", skip to "t", and go on to sub-subparagraph (iii),
: etc.
:
: I see that to indent after a number or letter, you type the number or
: letter, hit TAB, then CTRL+T (hanging indent), and type. The text
: wraps around and you get an evenly indented paragraph after the letter
: number. For example:
:
: 2. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
: blah blah blha blha blha alah alhaal bla ha lh.
:
: 3. Blah lahg lha a blh ablh a blh blah blah blh alh
: l alh lha lha lah .
:
: etc.
:
: But this doesn't work if you want to indent twice. What I want is:
:
: 3. a. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
:
: b. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
: blah blah blah blah
:
: After hitting the TAB after "a.", I hit CTRL+T -- but then the "a" gets
: indented too. Further, only the first line indents twice -- the text
: then wraps back to the first indent. Hitting CTRL+M is even worse
: because the "3" gets indented as well.
:
: Making a doubly indented paragraph is a routine, everday task, and I
: assume the solution must be simple too. How do I get it to indent
: twice without indenting the number and letter too?
:

 

[HT]

WordPerfect uses direct formatting ..whereas you apply the formatting to the
text directly each and every instance.

Word uses "styles" whereas you have a "container" of formatting features
that you can apply to each paragraph in one shot..not constantly apply the
same formatting over and over.

For example: "BodyText Indent" is they style you need to apply to the
paragraphs that you want indented. You can then modify this style to indent
one inch "Format, Style, Body Text Indent, Format, Paragraph, Indent="one
inch") if the indent is not what you want.

"Word for Dummies" is an excellent book to become accustomed to Word..and
its not for Dummies at all..the name is part of a series of books.

Have fun..and welcome to the wonderful world of Word!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

An even better source of information about outline numbering is
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html

 

[donnylaja]

Can anyone answer my question?

This is a very, very simple, routine typing thing I'm trying to do. In
WordPerfect, you do it by pressing F7. That's it. In the typewriter
days, you did it by returning the carriage to the place where you
wanted the indent.

I appreciate your suggestions but you refer me to entire families of
web pages, containing thousands of words, which explain how to do all
kinds of things I'm not interested in. As can be seen from my query, I
don't want to create a standard number list. I don't want to create
"Styles" that will always apply -- in fact, just the opposite. I want
to be able to type a paragraph with two indents -- with only the text,
and not the headings themselves, being indented.

This is a simple question. Can anyone guide me, step by step, on how
to do this (and only this) one thing? (Sorry for sounding exasperated
but I've been reading those pages you referred me to.) Thanks.

 

[Treesy]

Show a man to fish and he eats for one day. Teach a man to fish and he eats
for a lifetime.

 

[Elizabeth]

Can anyone answer my question?

This is a very, very simple, routine typing thing I'm trying to do. In
WordPerfect, you do it by pressing F7. That's it. In the typewriter
days, you did it by returning the carriage to the place where you
wanted the indent.

I appreciate your suggestions but you refer me to entire families of
web pages, containing thousands of words, which explain how to do all
kinds of things I'm not interested in. As can be seen from my query, I
don't want to create a standard number list. I don't want to create
"Styles" that will always apply -- in fact, just the opposite. I want
to be able to type a paragraph with two indents -- with only the text,
and not the headings themselves, being indented.

This is a simple question. Can anyone guide me, step by step, on how
to do this (and only this) one thing? (Sorry for sounding exasperated
but I've been reading those pages you referred me to.) Thanks.

Although the responses so far are very good (as you'll usually find on
this newsgroup) and will probably be very good reading material (when
you find the time!), I can understand your frustration at wanting to do
something very simple, but can't find out to do it.

Now, I have used the same kind of layout you're wanting to achieve, but
I've had to do some experimenting to try and find out how I originally
did it (they say the memory is the first thing to go...)

I've achieved exactly that layout by *explicitly* setting tabs, rather
than relying on the default tabs, so on the ruler there are the "L"
shapes showing where the tabs are. Then you type the "3.", then hit tab,
then type the "a.", then hit tab, then the "blah blah", then hit Ctrl-T
twice and the "blah blah" should line up as you want it.

Well, that's how it works here.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Look up "hanging indent" in Help. That's the name of the feature you want.

One way: Type your numbers and para, select the para, hover over the
three-piece hourglass on the ruler until the screen tip tells you that you
are on the "hanging indent", drag it to the place you want the text indented
to. This is nearly impossible to describe online--Help has illustrations so
go there first if you do not understand.

Then click on the ruler to set a tab where you want the "a", and it will
leap back--what happened here is that setting the hanging indent has wiped
out the default tab stops so you have to replace it. Using the Format |
Tabs dialog may be easier for you, see this link on that:
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/SettingTabs.htm

See also, for general purposes:

How Word differs from WordPerfect
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WordVsWordPerfect.htm

Some Tips and "Gotchas" for those who are new to Word
Especially if migrating from WordPerfect
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/TipsAndGotchas.htm

Is There Life After "Reveal Codes"?
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/RevealCodes.htm

WordPerfect to Word converters (and why none of them are perfect)
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/General/WordPerfectConverters.htm

 

[donnylaja]

Thanks Elizabeth!

Your simple solution is exactly right. It works!

Thanks to everyone who responded.

 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Elizabeth!

Your simple solution is exactly right. It works!

Thanks to everyone who responded.

You're welcome. But don't lose the links that Terry, Suzanne and Daiya
provided. When you find the time to study them, you'll find you'll reap
great benefits from them. I find that I can forget from time to time how
to do things, but I can usually figure it out having spent time
understanding the concepts underlying how Word works. It's a very
powerful program and the more you learn about it, the more you find you
can actually do beyond the basics.

Also, keep watching the newsgroup - I've learned a lot from just reading
about other people's problems and the answers they get here. And
bookmark the MVP web site - I find it much more effective to hit that
link in my browser rather than my head against the wall!

 

[Steve Hayes]

Show a man to fish and he eats for one day. Teach a man to fish and he eats
for a lifetime.

Except that all the fish ponds have signs saying "Private property. No
fishing."