Default Indent Size

[Rob Parker]

Using Word XP:

How do I change the default indent size (or indent spacing, if they are
different)? I want to set it to 0.5cm, rather than 0.63". In particular, I
want the indent pointers on the ruler to click to 0.5cm intervals, rather
than 0.63" intervals.

I can set the default tab spacing to 0.5cm (or, as I more commonly use, 1
cm); however, this does not affect the indent spacing. And I can't find
anything in the Help file, or by a quick newsgroup search in the
ms.public.word.* groups.

TIA,

Rob

 

[CyberTaz]

You're best option is to create a paragraph Style that includes the settings
you want, including precise indentation specs.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Rob Parker]

Hi Bob,

Sadly, this doesn't help at all.

I realize that I could do this, but it's not what I want. Quite apart from
the fact that I would have to set up a para style for each possible indent
setting, I want to control the intervals at which the indent pointers on the
ruler stop. I do not want them in imperial units, I want them in a useful
multiple of metric units (in my case, 0.5cm seems ) quite satisfactory. I
want to be able to drag the indent pointers and have them stop at positions
which will co-incide with my default tabs settings, not somewhere near them.

Are you saying that this can't be done? Is this yet another instance of the
Microsoft "work the way we want you to" philosophy?

Rob

 

[Stefan Blom]

Set the unit of measurement to centimeters, in Tools | Options,
General tab.

On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw, and then click Grid. Set the
horizontal and vertical spacing to 0.5 cm. Make sure that "Snap
objects to grid" is checked. Click Default to store the new settings
in the attached template. (Clicking OK changes it for the current
document, only.)

Now you can drag the indent indicators in increments of 0.5 cm.

If, in addition, you set the default tab stops to 0.5 cm (in Format |
Tabs), you can press Ctrl+M each time you want to increase the left
indent by 0.5 cm. (Ctrl+Shift+M outdents in the same increments.) And
you can use Ctrl+T to set a hanging indent.

Alternatively, set up the List series of styles as an indented
outline-numbered list (but without numbering formatting), and you can
promote and demote levels as in a numbered list. See
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message

 

[Rob Parker]

Thank you.

Not exactly intuitive, is it ;-) Who would have thought that a drawing
setting would control text indentation? Certainly not me!

Apart from that point, I was aware of everything else you mentioned; and my
settings were as you suggested.

Rob

 

[Stefan Blom]

No, the connection to the drawing grid is not apparent. But it is
quite useful, once you learn about it.

Note that you can override the grid if, occasionally, you need to
specify different indents: just hold the Alt key whilst dragging the
indent markers (this applies also to dragging tab stops and resizing
table columns using the mouse).

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message