Indenting multiple secondary lines in Word 2007

[PRR]

How can I indent every line below the first one in a paragraph? I know that I
can move every line individually by pressing Ctrl+Tab. I also can select the
paragraph, then change the formatting to hanging indent in the context menu’s
paragraph options. But this latter method gives a different starting
(horizontal) point than the indenting formed by Ctrl+Tab, and I’d like all my
lines aligned. Is there a way to select all the lower lines and then indent
them, from the keyboard?

 

[grammatim]

In the Format > Paragraph panel, you can specify the amount of Hanging
Indent in fractions of an inch. This measurement has little to do with
tabs.

In the Format > Tabs panel, you can set the tab stops in fractions of
an inch, so if there's a reason to align tabbed indents with the
hanging indent, that's easily done, too.

And every Style can have its own values for these attributes.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Moreover, by default Word sets a tab stop at the hanging indent position.
Both tab stops and hanging indents are most easily set on the ruler; see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/formatting/UsingRulers.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

In the Format > Paragraph panel, you can specify the amount of Hanging
Indent in fractions of an inch. This measurement has little to do with
tabs.

In the Format > Tabs panel, you can set the tab stops in fractions of
an inch, so if there's a reason to align tabbed indents with the
hanging indent, that's easily done, too.

And every Style can have its own values for these attributes.

 

[PRR]

Thanks. That wasn't working before, but looking at the settings I see tab and
hanging indent were both set for the same length. Not sure why they were off.
Anyways, I have a macro now that can do this quickly, and its up on the QAT
now.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You'd be much better advised to do this with a style rather than a macro.
You can assign the style to a toolbar button (or shortcut key).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[PRR]

Could you explain why it would be better to use a style (than a macro)? Isn't
the macro simply doing the work I would do manually, by hitting Ctrl+Tab?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I'm not sure what you're using Ctrl+Tab for (ordinarily you need this only
to insert a tab character in a table), but if you want a paragraph with a
hanging indent at a specific location (and a tab stop at that or some other
location), then it makes more sense to define a style accordingly and apply
it to the text. Word is designed to work better with styles than with manual
formatting, and your macro is just applying manual formatting. If you're
going to go to the trouble of automating the application of manual
formatting, then the way to do it is with a style, not a macro.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[PRR]

Grammatim, thanks for your replies to my queries here.

As far as the style, Suzanne, thanks also. I was able to create a new style
called HangingIndent, and then, since i have the Style icon on my QAT, just
use 2007's nice built-in keyboard shortucts--Alt+4 (which put the focus on my
4th icon, the Style one). Typing in "h" is usually enough to get that style
inserted. Very nice.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

FWIW, the built-in List styles in Word have a hanging indent that you can
modify to your preference (and add to the QuickStyles gallery if desired).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org