Setting Tabs

PowerPoint includes default tab stops at every inch; when you press the Tab key, the text moves to the next tab stop. You can control the location of the tab stops using the ruler. When you set a tab, tab markers appear on the ruler. Tabs apply to an entire paragraph, not a single line within that paragraph. You can also clear a tab by removing it from the ruler.

Set a Tab

Click the paragraph or select the paragraphs whose tabs you want to modify. You can also select a text object to change the tabs for all paragraphs in that object.

If necessary, click the View tab, and then select the Ruler check box to display the ruler.

Click the Tab button at the left of the horizontal ruler until you see the type of tab you want.

Click the ruler where you want to set the tab.

Did You Know?

You can use the Tabs dialog box to make multiple changes at one time. On the Home tab, click the Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher, click Tabs, select the tab stop you want to change, click Clear or make a change and click Set, and then click OK.

You must use caution when you change a default tab. When you drag a default tab marker to a new location, the spaces between all the tab markers change proportionally.

Tab Button Alignments
Tab Button	Aligns Text with
	Left edge of text
	Center of text
	Right edge of text
	Decimal points in text

Change the Distance Between Default Tab Stops

Select the text object in which you want to change the default tab stops.

If necessary, click the View tab, and then select the Ruler check box to display the ruler.

Drag any default tab stop marker to a new position.

Clear a Tab

Select the text object in which you want to clear tab stops.

If necessary, click the View tab, and then select the Ruler check box to display the ruler.

Drag the tab marker off the ruler.