Add, remove, and modify tabs

Add, remove, and modify tabs

Motion allows paragraph-formatted text to contain an unlimited number of tabs to control word spacing in text. By default, text created in Motion has no tabs. Adding, moving, and removing tabs is done in the Canvas—but you can also move tabs by modifying their values in the Inspector. When you import a Rich Text Format (RTF) file, tabs in the RTF file are retained in the Motion project and appear in the Tabs section of the Layout pane.

There are four types of tabs:

  • Left tab: Aligns the left edge of the text with the tab.

  • Right tab: Aligns the right edge of the text with the tab.

  • Center tab: Aligns the center of the text with the tab.

  • Decimal tab: Aligns decimal points in numbers on multiple lines.

Add a tab

  1. In the Layout pane of the Text Inspector, make sure Paragraph (or Scroll) is selected in the Layout Method pop-up menu.

  2. Double-click the text in the Canvas to display the paragraph onscreen controls.

  3. In the ruler above the text-entry field in the Canvas, do one of the following:

    • Click to add a left tab.

    • Double-click to add a center tab.

    • Control-click and choose a tab type from the shortcut menu.

    When you add a tab, its black icon appears in the ruler.

    Canvas showing text object with ruler and different types of tabs

Change a tab type in the Canvas

  • Double-click a tab icon in the ruler.

    The tabs cycle through the right, center, left, and decimal types.

Change a tab type in the Inspector

  • In the Tabs section of the Layout pane of the Text Inspector, click the Tab type pop-up menu, then choose an option.

    The tabs icon is updated in the ruler in the Canvas.

Move the tabs

  1. Double-click the text in the Canvas to display the paragraph onscreen controls.

    Note: The Text tool must be selected for the ruler and tabs to appear in the Canvas.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • In the Canvas, drag a tab (the small black icon) in the ruler.

    • In the Layout pane of the Text Inspector, use the Tabs controls to adjust the position and layout of the tabs.

      The affected text is repositioned to the tab.

Remove a tab

  1. Double-click the text in the Canvas to display the paragraph onscreen controls.

    Note: The Text tool must be selected for the ruler and tabs to appear in the Canvas.

  2. Drag the tab (the small black icon) away from the ruler and release the mouse button.

    The tab is removed from the ruler in the Tabs controls in the Layout pane of the Text Inspector.

See also
Tabs controls in the Layout pane