Modifying Paragraphs

Use this dialog to change settings for one or more paragraphs within a text box on your document. Do one of the following to access this dialog:

• To change all paragraphs in the text box, select the text box then do one of the following:
  • Right-click and choose Paragraph
  • Select Text > Paragraph

CAUTION: Changes made this way affect all paragraphs in the text box.

•  To change a single paragraph, double-click the text box. This places the text cursor at the beginning of the first paragraph. Move the text cursor to the paragraph you want to change then do one of the following:
  • Right-click and choose Paragraph
  • Select Text > Paragraph

What's on the Screen?

The Modify Paragraph dialog includes the following tabs:

• Line Spacing

  Set line spacing within and between paragraphs, and baseline position.

  Use this element…	…to…
  Line Spacing	Set line and paragraph spacing. Use this element… …to… Between lines Set the vertical distance between lines of text. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10). The default value is equal to the vertical grid spacing. NOTE: When you change font size, line spacing does not change automatically; you must set it independently. If you use a larger font size, you may see the text lines partially, or even completely, obscured when the font size is larger than the line spacing, for example, 36 point font size with 1/6" (12 point) line spacing. When this occurs, first deselect the text box to view the overlapping text lines; then, reselect the text to adjust the font size, line spacing, or both. After paragraphs Set the vertical distance after (below) a paragraph of text. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10). Enter a value the spacing type. Select a unit of measurement. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10). (Optional) Repeat for the other spacing type.
  Baseline Shift	Set the position of the baseline (the bottom of the letters, excluding descenderIn typography, the portion of a letter that extends below the baseline; for example, the "tail" of the letter y. characters). Use this element… …to… Type Set the vertical direction for moving selected text. Choices are: None (default) = no shifting. Superscript = shift the baseline up. Subscript = shift the baseline down. Value Enter the number you want for the setting, appropriate to the unit you have selected. Units Set the unit of measurement. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10).
  Save settings as default	Save the current values to be in effect when you create new text other text boxes.

• Indentation

  Define the distance from the edge of the text box to the paragraph.

  Use this element…	…to…
  Paragraph indentation	Define the distance from the edge of the box to the paragraph and any first line indent or outdent (hanging lines). Use this element… …to… Left Set the distance from the left-hand side of the text box to all the paragraph lines. Right Set the distance from the right-hand side of the text box to all the paragraph lines. First line Set the distance the first line should indent. If you want a hanging line (the first line outdented), set a negative value. NOTE: To get a hanging first line, you must set the left margin to greater than 0, then set this margin to a negative number of the same value. For example, to have the first line hang by 10 points, first set the left margin to 10 pts, then set this margin to -10 pts. (This note is an example of a hanging first line.) Following lines Set the distance the remaining lines should indent. If you want a hanging first line, this must be 0 or a positive number Enter a value for each indent. Select a unit of measurement. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10).
  Save settings as default	Save the current values to be in effect when you create new text other text boxes.

• Alignment

  Set how paragraphs are aligned within the text box.

  Use this element…	…to…
  Alignment	Set the paragraph alignment. Choices are: Left = Align the paragraph text to the left (ragged right). Center = Align the paragraph text so that each line is centered between the left and right sides of the text box. Right = Align the paragraph text to the right (ragged left). Full = Align the paragraph text to be fully extended (justified) between the left and right sides of the text box.
  Save settings as default	Save the current values to be in effect when you create new text other text boxes.

• Tabs

  Set the spacing added when you press Tab on your keyboard.

  Use this element…	…to…
  Tab Position	Enter a number for the location of the tab. The number is used in combination with the Units setting to define where the tab is located. For example, if you enter a 2 here and 1/6" in units, the location of the tab will be 2/6". The tab does not take effect until you click Set.
  Units	Enter the unit of measurement used in combination with the tab position. The unit of measurement can be set in points, millimeters, inches, or fractions of an inch (1/5, 1/6, 1/8, and 1/10).
  Tab List	View a list of currently set tabs. If this list is blank, no tabs have been set for this paragraph. Change tabs by selecting a tab from the list and adjusting its settings.
  Alignment	Define the tab alignment type. Choices are: Left = Align the text flush left with the tab. Center = Align the text so that it is centered on the tab. Right = Align the text flush right with the tab. Decimal = Align the text on a decimal point.
  Set	Save the tab setting you just defined or changed.
  Clear	Clear the currently selected tab.
  Clear All	Clear all defined tabs.
  Save settings as default	Save the current values to be in effect when you create new text other text boxes.

How do I…