IWBNI it were possible to set tab stops for a given paragraph within a text block. As it is now, tab characters may be entered into a text block using the Tab key. Tabs in text blocks are displayed as a sequence of spaces. The number of spaces that are displayed in place of a tab is specified in the Tab Spaces setting on the Notation Options dialog box. Tab characters are stored in ETF files using the standard ASCII code for a horizontal tab character (i.e. code 9).

This feature would be useful for example, when a table of contents is to be included that has dots to connect movement or section titles with page numbers which are right aligned, or when a table of notation symbols with descriptions is to be included in the introductory pages of a score. As it is now, tables such as this may be created with a aligned collection of text blocks.

This could be implemented by adding a menu item called Tabs to the Text menu that is associated with the text tool. This menu item would display a new dialog box called Tabs that could contain the following controls:

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Tabs Dialog Box

Tab Stop Position: _____
Tab Stops: |list box of tabs stops that have been defined|

Alignment:
( ) Left
( ) Center
( ) Right
( ) Decimal

Leader:
( ) None
( ) .....
( ) -----
( ) _____
 

[Set] [Clear] [Clear All]
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To set the tab stops for a given text block or for a given paragraph within a text block, one would select the handle of the text block or the paragraph and then select the menu item Tabs.

Created: April 12, 2000
Last Updated: April 12, 2000
Version: Finale 2000b