Set margins, tabs, and indents

You can set and modify indents and tabs using either the horizontal ruler or the Tabs pane of the Text inspector.

Ruler symbols for tabs and indents

Add, change, or remove tabs

  1. If the horizontal ruler isn’t visible, choose Show Rulers from the View pop-up menu in the toolbar.

  2. Select the text for which you want to set a tab.

    If you want to set a tab for a paragraph, put the insertion point anywhere in the paragraph.

  3. To add a tab, click the horizontal ruler and drag the tab symbol where you want it.

  4. Do any of the following:

    • Change the way text aligns with the tab: Double-click the tab symbol until it becomes the kind you want (or Control-click the symbol and choose an option from the shortcut menu).

    • Add a leader (such as a dotted line) in front of the tab: In the Tabs pane of the Text inspector, select the tab in the Tab Stops list, and choose an option from the Leader pop-up menu.

      If the Tabs pane isn’t visible, click Inspector in the toolbar, click the Text Inspector button, and click Tabs.

    • Delete a tab: Drag it off the ruler.

Set paragraph indents

  1. If the horizontal ruler isn’t visible, choose Show Rulers from the View pop-up menu in the toolbar.

  2. Drag the indentation controls in the ruler.

    Tip: To change the left margin indent independently of the first line indent, hold down the Option key as you drag.