Chapter 6
(continued)
The askSam Word Processor
Formatting Text
Formatting affects how text appears on the screen and how it prints. askSam lets you define different formats, and also lets you combine multiple formats into “Styles”. We will first describe the individual formatting options, and then explain how you can combine these formats in Styles.
Using Fonts and Font Attributes
The typeface and form of the characters in a text are known as a FONT. Font attributes are formats such as Bold, Italic, and Superscript. As with other Windows applications, the fonts and sizes on the screen are the same as those that will print in your Documents (whenever possible).
1. Choose FORMAT -> FONT.
The Font Dialog Box will appear.
2. Choose the Font, Font Style, Size, Color, any Effects, and then choose OK.
The settings you have selected are active. The next text you enter will appear in the new font.
1. Select the text you wish to modify.
The selected text will be highlighted on the screen.
2. Choose FORMAT -> FONT.
The FONT Dialog Box will appear. From this dialog box, you can change:
· The Font
· The Font Style (Bold, Italic, Bold Italic)
· The Font Size
· The Font Color (foreground and background)
· The Font Effects (Strikeout and Underline)
3. Make all the desired changes and the choose OK.
The selected text will change to the Font, Size, and Color you selected.
You can set the default font for a specific file or for any new file that askSam creates.
To change the default font used by a file, choose FORMAT -> STYLE and modify the Normal Style. The
Normal Style is the default Style used in new askSam files. This setting modifies the default font used by all the Documents contained in the file. It will not, however, affect fonts specified using the Font Dialog Box or the drop-down Font Menu. See the description of Styles later in this chapter for details.
The Text Attributes Menu contains various styles and effects: Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikeout, Superscript, and Subscript. To change the Text Attributes:
1. Select the text you wish to modify.
2. Choose FORMAT -> TEXT ATTRIBUTES.
The Text Attribute menu containing the font styles and effects will appear. If any font style (Bold, Italic) or Font Effect (underline, superscript) is active at the current cursor position or in the selected text, there will be a check mark next to the appropriate choice. Clicking next to an Attribute toggles it ON or OFF.
3. Choose an Attribute.
The Selected Text will be modified.
NOTES:
1. You can choose multiple Attributes by repeating the above procedure.
2. If no text is selected when you choose the Text Attributes command, the next text you type will be in the Attribute you select.
3. You can select a Font Style from the Format Bar by clicking on either the Bold, Italic, or Underline Button.
4. You can select a Text Attribute using the keyboard:
PRESSING CHANGES FONT STYLE TO
CRTL+B Bold
CTRL+I Italics
CTRL+U Underline
CTRL+SHIFT+K Strikeout
askSam lets you modify the Foreground and Background Colors of your text. To change the color of a text:
1. Select the text you wish to modify.
2. Choose FORMAT -> FOREGROUND COLOR (or BACKGROUND COLOR).
The Color Menu appears allowing you to choose a color for your text.
3. Choose a color.
The color of the Selected Text will be modified.
You can also change the Font and Font Size of a text directly from the Format Bar. This can be accomplished by using the drop-down Font and Font Size Menus.
1. Click on the drop-down Font or Font Size Menu on the Format Bar.
2. Choose a font or font size.
3. The drop-down menu will close and the chosen font or font size is set.
· If a text was selected, it will now be displayed in the new font or font size.
· If no text was selected, the next text you type will appear in the new font or font size.
NOTE: Press CTRL+SHIFT+F to access the Drop-Down Font field. You can type in the name (or the first few letters) of the font you want and then press ENTER. Press CTRL+SHIFT+P to access the Drop-Down Font Size field.
Changing Text Alignment
Text can be aligned in the following ways:
· on the left margin
· on the right margin
· centered between the two margins
1. Select the text you wish to modify or place the cursor in the paragraph you wish to modify.
2. Choose FORMAT -> ALIGNMENT.
A menu with the Alignment choices will be displayed.
3. Choose the Alignment Command you wish to use. (Left, Center or Right)
The selected text or the paragraph containing the cursor will be realigned.
NOTE:
1. The ALIGNMENT Command can be accessed from the Format Bar. Click on the appropriate Alignment Button:
The Paragraph Command
The Paragraph Command lets you modify formats for a selected text or for the current paragraph. The Paragraph Command contains settings for: Alignment, Indentation, and Spacing (both line spacing and paragraph spacing).
1. Position the cursor in the paragraph you wish to modify, or select the text you wish to modify.
2. Choose FORMAT -> PARAGRAPH.
The Paragraph Dialog Box will appear.
3. Set the settings you wish to modify. You can choose from:
· Alignment
· Indentation
· Spacing
4. Choose OK.
The Paragraph formats are modified in the selected text or the current paragraph.
Alignment
Text can be aligned in the following ways: on the left margin, on the right margin, centered between the two margins.
Indents can be set on either the left or right side of the page. You can indent the first line of a paragraph, or you can define a hanging indent that indents all lines but the first line.
EXAMPLES:
First Line Indent
This is an example of a first line indent. The first line of a paragraph is indented. The following lines are not. They move back to the left margin.
Hanging Indent
1. A hanging indent is often used with a tab to create numbered lists. The first line starts at the left margin, but when the text wraps, it wraps underneath the previous text.
NOTE: Margins and Indents are similar, but they serve different purposes. Margins are set in the FILE -> PAGE SETUP dialog. Margins affect an entire Document, whereas Indents can
be set for individual paragraphs. Generally, margins are used when you print on different size paper, stationary, or labels. Indents are used to format documents. You'll find a description of Margins in the chapter on Printing.
Ruler with Left Indent Markers
1. Click and DRAG the Left or Right Indent Marker to a new position.
Moving the top half of the Left Indent Marker sets a First Line Indent. Moving the Bottom half sets a hanging Indent. Moving the rectangle underneath the Left Indent Marker moves the entire left Indent.
The Indent is set for the paragraph containing the cursor or the selected text.
Spacing
Standard text is single spaced in the askSam Word Processor. But you can modify the spacing between lines and also define extra spacing before or after a paragraph.
The Paragraph Dialog Box lets you set the following options:
· The “Before” and “After” options set the amount of space that is inserted before or after a paragraph.
· The Line Spacing options set the amount of space between wrapped lines. Line Spacing can be single, 1.5 lines, double, or exactly. “Exactly” lets you enter an exact value.
Setting Tabs
As a default setting, askSam places Tabs every half inch. These default Tab Settings are not displayed in the Ruler or in the Tab Dialog Box. Tab Settings control where the cursor is placed each time the TAB key is pressed (except when you are in Data Entry mode).
You can use either the Ruler or the Tab Menu to set your own Tabs. These settings will override askSam's default settings.
1. Choose FORMAT -> TABS.
The Tabs Dialog Box will be displayed.
2. Enter a measurement (in inches)
This defines the position where the Tab will be set.
3. Choose the Alignment for the Tab you are setting.
Alignment Description
Left Left aligns text on this tab
Center Centers text on this tab
Right Right aligns text on this tab
Decimal Aligns text on the decimal character
Bar Inserts the | character on this tab
Field Right aligns fields in Entry Forms. This tab should only be used for setting up fields in Entry Forms.
4. Select a Leader setting for the Tab.
Leaders define a character that will fill the space between the cursor position before you press the Tab key, and the position where the Tab is set. A leader can be dots, hyphens, or the underline character. Leaders are useful in lists for example:
John Smith 800-800-1997
5. Choose the Set button.
The Tab is inserted in the list.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 for all tabs you wish to set.
6. Choose the OK Button to accept the tab settings.
The new Tab settings are in effect for the selected text or the line containing the cursor.
EXAMPLES:
NOTE: When necessary, tab measurements are rounded down to the nearest 1/16"
1. Choose FORMAT -> TABS.
The Tabs Dialog Box will be displayed.
2. To delete a specific Tab, highlight the measurement for this tab in the Tab Stop Position List and then choose the CLEAR Button. To delete all the Tabs, choose the CLEAR ALL Button.
3. Choose OK.
The Tabs are removed in the selected text or in the line containing the cursor.
When the Ruler is displayed, you can easily modify Tab Setting using your mouse.
1. Use the mouse to click on the Ruler where you want to set a Tab.
A Tab character appears in the Ruler, and a Tab is set where you clicked.
2. Click again to set any other Tabs or click and DRAG any Tab whose position you wish to modify. The new Tab Settings are in effect for the selected text or the line containing the cursor.
If you want a Centered, Decimal, Bar, Field or Right Justified Tab, click on the Tab character to the left of the ruler until the appropriate Tab type appears. Then click on the Ruler to insert that type of Tab.
Ruler Tab Type
 Left align tab
 Center tab
 Right align tab
 Decimal tab
 Inserts the | character on this tab
 Right aligns fields in Entry Forms. This tab is only used for setting up fields in Entry Forms.
1. Click and Drag the Tab you wish to delete from the Ruler to the Work Space.
The tab will be deleted.
|
