Formatting tab controls

Formatting tab controls

You can format tab control borders, and the position and appearance of the tab names. You can format the background color or pattern of a tab panel. You can set the width of tabs in a tab control.

You can also format objects on tab controls. For more information on formatting objects, see Formatting and setting up field objects in Layout mode.

To format a tab control:

1.

In Layout mode, do one of the following.

To

Do this

Change a tab control’s borders

Select the tab control. Use the Line or Fill palettes in the formatting bar. For more information, see Setting color, pattern, line width, and object effects.

If you don’t see the formatting bar, click Formatting in the layout bar.

Place all tabs on tab panels to the far left, center, far right, or spread them out over the tab panels

Double-click a tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Left, Center, Right, or Full from the Tab Justification drop-down list.

Change tab panels’ appearance

Double-click a tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Rounded or Square from the Appearance drop-down list.

Change the format of the tab panel name

Use the options in the formatting bar to change the font, size, style, or font color. For more information, see Formatting text.

Change the width of all tabs in a tab control

Select the tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Label Width, Label Width + Margin, Width of Widest Label, Minimum of, Fixed Width of from the Tab Width list.

For Label Width + Margin, Minimum of, or Fixed Width of, choose a units option: Inches, Centimeter or Pixels, then enter a value.

To change the color or pattern of a tab panel or objects in the tab panel:

1.

In Layout mode, select the tab panels and objects you want to change. For more information, see Selecting and working with objects in tab panels.

2.

Choose an option.

To change

Do this

Fill color or fill pattern of the tab panel

  •

Click Fill Color or Fill Pattern in the formatting bar. For more information, see Setting color, pattern, line width, and object effects.

  •

Or, right-click a selected tab panel or panels and use the pop-up menu.

Notes

  •

You can’t format a locked object. For more information, see Protecting objects from change.

  •

Format changes applied to tab controls do not affect the objects on the tab panels, unless you have selected the objects. For more information, see Selecting objects.

  •

You can place a graphic under a transparent tab panel for a customized look. Leave the borders non-transparent; transparent borders can’t be selected. Press the tab key to move through transparent tab panels. For information on making a tab panel transparent, see Setting auto-resize options for layout objects.

Related topics

Making text bold, italic, or setting other styles

Aligning or distributing objects

Showing text, field, or button boundaries

To	Do this
Change a tab control’s borders	Select the tab control. Use the Line or Fill palettes in the formatting bar. For more information, see Setting color, pattern, line width, and object effects. If you don’t see the formatting bar, click Formatting in the layout bar.
Place all tabs on tab panels to the far left, center, far right, or spread them out over the tab panels	Double-click a tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Left, Center, Right, or Full from the Tab Justification drop-down list.
Change tab panels’ appearance	Double-click a tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Rounded or Square from the Appearance drop-down list.
Change the format of the tab panel name	Use the options in the formatting bar to change the font, size, style, or font color. For more information, see Formatting text.
Change the width of all tabs in a tab control	Select the tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose Label Width, Label Width + Margin, Width of Widest Label, Minimum of, Fixed Width of from the Tab Width list. For Label Width + Margin, Minimum of, or Fixed Width of, choose a units option: Inches, Centimeter or Pixels, then enter a value.

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