decimal tabs and rtf standard

[Jason Chapman \(JAC2\)]

First post to this NG

I produce a document as RTF using a component in my application. I save it
and load it into word and notice that the tabs are not required in tables
with decimal tabs stops. In fact if you put the tab char in, it moves to
the next tab. It is minor, but seems slightly illogical.

Am I right?
Can you turn it off, so you require the tab?
Is it a bug or has it been included as users don't know how to put a tab
char into a table cell?

For me it is a pain as I have to decide whether they output is going to be
viewed / printed in word or another RTF rendering system and add / remove
tab chars.

Oh and another thing, in a table if you have a border width of 0, I thought
it is supposed to produce a 1 pixel thick border. I have an RTF doc that
shows it as a border, but omits the left and one of the top borders when
printed. Is this a bug?

Windows XP
Office XP
HP 4L.

TIA

JAC.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Jason,

I produce a document as RTF using a component in my application. I save it
and load it into word and notice that the tabs are not required in tables
with decimal tabs stops. In fact if you put the tab char in, it moves to
the next tab. It is minor, but seems slightly illogical.

Am I right?

In a general way, yes. I have had Word tables require the tab to get to the
decimal tab stop, on occasion (working in the UI). But that was quite some
time ago (like Word 6 or 95) and I can't remember exactly what I did. I think
it may have been when there was already a TAB character in the cell before
the decimal tab stop was defined. Something like that, anyway.

Can you turn it off, so you require the tab?

Not as far as I know. Not "legally" as far as Word is concerned, anyway.

Is it a bug or has it been included as users don't know how to put a tab
char into a table cell?

The latter, I'm fairly sure. Plus, it's also quite cool when you select a
column of numbers, set the decimal tab stop, and they all align Real
time-saver, that.

Oh and another thing, in a table if you have a border width of 0, I thought
it is supposed to produce a 1 pixel thick border. I have an RTF doc that
shows it as a border, but omits the left and one of the top borders when
printed. Is this a bug?

Where did you see that documented?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

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[Jason Chapman \(JAC2\)]

Thanks Cindy,

Where did you see that documented?

Documented, well not quite. The guy that produces the RTF components
statement. Which seemed plausible as the other 8ish borders on the table
were visible in word and printed, but two did not (but were still visible).

Thanks again, and into the RTF breach I go

JAC.