This document provides instructions on setting tab stops in Microsoft Word 2010. It explains what tab stops are, the different types of tab stops, and how to set and adjust tab stops using the ruler or Tabs dialog box. It also describes how to set leaders, which are lines that fill the space between tabbed columns, and how to use tab stops to align text in columns or tables. The overall aim is to teach the reader how to properly utilize tab stops to organize and format text in Word documents.
3. Microsoft®
Word 2010 Core Skills
Setting Tab Stops
• Tab settings (stops) are similar to text alignment
– Enables you to align information at specific points in the
document
– Useful for creating tables or aligning numbered items
– Enables you to align information for setting up columns of text
• When you create a tab stop, text aligns at the tab
stop(similar to paragraph alignment)
– mark the place where the insertion point will stop when you
press Tab.
• Default tab stops are set every half inch and are left-
aligned
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18. Microsoft®
Word 2010 Core Skills
Leaders/Dot Leaders
• Leaders are solid, dotted, or dashed lines that fill
the blank space before a tab setting.
• Leaders are often used in tables of contents.
• To insert a leader, open the Tabs dialog box.
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19. Microsoft®
Word 2010 Core Skills
Leaders/Dot Leaders
Dot Leaders
Line Leader
Dash Leaders
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Pg 71Briefly introduce the topics that will be covered in this lesson so students are aware of the new skills they will learn. Remind students also that all the information is available in the book as a reference so they don’t need to commit anything to memory or take notes.
Pg 72
Pg 72Objective 2.3This image is provided in the gallery as well in the Extra IR Files folder for you to use, as required.Tabs can be one of the most confusing features for students to figure out. You may want to introduce this slowly to relieve any anxiety people may have about how, what, and why to use tabs.
Pg 72Objective 2.3Most people who need to set tabs for a report will have that same report in a printed form to use as a model. Although it’s not mentioned as often any more, you may want to use the “guestimate” terminology to show students how they can quickly align the report with the ruler and guess where the best spot for the tab should be. Make sure students also understand that choosing the appropriate alignment can mean the difference between a “so-so” report versus a great report, especially if dealing with financial documents such as budgets, income statements, balance sheets, price ratio reports, etc.Discuss how using tabs can be extremely advantageous should the report need to be converted to another format such as Excel or Access. Tab codes inserted by Word can be recognized by other programs as the column separator option. This will be discussed in the Expert exam level.By taking their best guess as to where the tab settings should be placed, you can then introduce how easy it can be to change these settings as needed. The big reminder then is to select any existing text to be adjusted – similar to making any type of change to existing text, it must be selected first.
Pg 73Objective 2.3Provide an example of how to guess where the tab settings can be placed on the Ruler. When discussing the Tab Selector box, be sure to refer to the sample alignment in the book (or use your own). You can also relate this back to how the text appears if you change the alignment to paragraphs.Draw the students’ attention to the screen as they work with tabs, noting all the visual clues that appear to guide them, e.g., tab character, vertical dashed line when setting or modifying the tab setting, etc.
Pg 71Objective 2.3A trick you can provide to students is to use the text/line wrapping break with each line of the tabbed table so adjustments can be made to the figures in the tables all at once without having to select each line of the table. For instance, in the following screen, the student would have to select each line in the table before changing the tab settings for this table:In the next screen, notice the text wrapping features enables you to position the cursor anywhere in the table to make a change to a tab setting that automatically changes the entire table. Remember that text wrap breaks treats lines of text as a single paragraph, whereas each paragraph mark is considered a separate line that needs to be selected before you can adjust that paragraph.
Pg 73Objective 2.3Provide an example of how to guess where the tab settings can be placed on the Ruler. When discussing the Tab Selector box, be sure to refer to the sample alignment in the book (or use your own). You can also relate this back to how the text appears if you change the alignment to paragraphs.Draw the students’ attention to the screen as they work with tabs, noting all the visual clues that appear to guide them, e.g., tab character, vertical dashed line when setting or modifying the tab setting, etc.
Pg 73Objective 2.3Provide an example of how to guess where the tab settings can be placed on the Ruler. When discussing the Tab Selector box, be sure to refer to the sample alignment in the book (or use your own). You can also relate this back to how the text appears if you change the alignment to paragraphs.Draw the students’ attention to the screen as they work with tabs, noting all the visual clues that appear to guide them, e.g., tab character, vertical dashed line when setting or modifying the tab setting, etc.
Pg 72Objective 2.3Most people who need to set tabs for a report will have that same report in a printed form to use as a model. Although it’s not mentioned as often any more, you may want to use the “guestimate” terminology to show students how they can quickly align the report with the ruler and guess where the best spot for the tab should be. Make sure students also understand that choosing the appropriate alignment can mean the difference between a “so-so” report versus a great report, especially if dealing with financial documents such as budgets, income statements, balance sheets, price ratio reports, etc.Discuss how using tabs can be extremely advantageous should the report need to be converted to another format such as Excel or Access. Tab codes inserted by Word can be recognized by other programs as the column separator option. This will be discussed in the Expert exam level.By taking their best guess as to where the tab settings should be placed, you can then introduce how easy it can be to change these settings as needed. The big reminder then is to select any existing text to be adjusted – similar to making any type of change to existing text, it must be selected first.
Pg 72Objective 2.3Most people who need to set tabs for a report will have that same report in a printed form to use as a model. Although it’s not mentioned as often any more, you may want to use the “guestimate” terminology to show students how they can quickly align the report with the ruler and guess where the best spot for the tab should be. Make sure students also understand that choosing the appropriate alignment can mean the difference between a “so-so” report versus a great report, especially if dealing with financial documents such as budgets, income statements, balance sheets, price ratio reports, etc.Discuss how using tabs can be extremely advantageous should the report need to be converted to another format such as Excel or Access. Tab codes inserted by Word can be recognized by other programs as the column separator option. This will be discussed in the Expert exam level.By taking their best guess as to where the tab settings should be placed, you can then introduce how easy it can be to change these settings as needed. The big reminder then is to select any existing text to be adjusted – similar to making any type of change to existing text, it must be selected first.
Pg 71Objective 2.3A trick you can provide to students is to use the text/line wrapping break with each line of the tabbed table so adjustments can be made to the figures in the tables all at once without having to select each line of the table. For instance, in the following screen, the student would have to select each line in the table before changing the tab settings for this table:In the next screen, notice the text wrapping features enables you to position the cursor anywhere in the table to make a change to a tab setting that automatically changes the entire table. Remember that text wrap breaks treats lines of text as a single paragraph, whereas each paragraph mark is considered a separate line that needs to be selected before you can adjust that paragraph.
Pg 75Objective 2.3Discuss advantages and disadvantages of using this dialog box versus using the ruler. In most cases, users will likely set tabs on the ruler as it is often much faster to set or modify. However, there will be occasion when they will need to be more precise or want to set up multiple tabs at the same time using any of the options in the Tabs dialog box.Emphasize the Set button must be used with each tab setting; in fact, you may even want to consider having them try it with one or two tab settings so they can see what happens. Another hint that can be helpful with a large report with many columns of data is to set the tabs on the ruler using the default left alignment. Then double-click one of the tab settings to display the Tabs dialog box and then change the alignment for each tab position in the list.
Pg 75Objective 2.3Discuss advantages and disadvantages of using this dialog box versus using the ruler. In most cases, users will likely set tabs on the ruler as it is often much faster to set or modify. However, there will be occasion when they will need to be more precise or want to set up multiple tabs at the same time using any of the options in the Tabs dialog box.Emphasize the Set button must be used with each tab setting; in fact, you may even want to consider having them try it with one or two tab settings so they can see what happens. Another hint that can be helpful with a large report with many columns of data is to set the tabs on the ruler using the default left alignment. Then double-click one of the tab settings to display the Tabs dialog box and then change the alignment for each tab position in the list.
Pg 75Objective 2.3Discuss advantages and disadvantages of using this dialog box versus using the ruler. In most cases, users will likely set tabs on the ruler as it is often much faster to set or modify. However, there will be occasion when they will need to be more precise or want to set up multiple tabs at the same time using any of the options in the Tabs dialog box.Emphasize the Set button must be used with each tab setting; in fact, you may even want to consider having them try it with one or two tab settings so they can see what happens. Another hint that can be helpful with a large report with many columns of data is to set the tabs on the ruler using the default left alignment. Then double-click one of the tab settings to display the Tabs dialog box and then change the alignment for each tab position in the list.
Pg 75Objective 2.3Discuss advantages and disadvantages of using this dialog box versus using the ruler. In most cases, users will likely set tabs on the ruler as it is often much faster to set or modify. However, there will be occasion when they will need to be more precise or want to set up multiple tabs at the same time using any of the options in the Tabs dialog box.Emphasize the Set button must be used with each tab setting; in fact, you may even want to consider having them try it with one or two tab settings so they can see what happens. Another hint that can be helpful with a large report with many columns of data is to set the tabs on the ruler using the default left alignment. Then double-click one of the tab settings to display the Tabs dialog box and then change the alignment for each tab position in the list.
