Calculating tab spaces

[moxie]

Is there anyway to place a tab space into a merge field via a calculation?

I've creating a merge field, I'm wanting to have the Item name left aligned, then the cost right aligned on the same line. I can get the name and cost working, but having a consistent space between the Item name and cost is proving beyond my calc. experience?

[Raybaudi]

Hi

yes, there is !

Make a global field (named TAB) and insert a tab inside it.

The merge field will be:

<><><>

You can also insert more than one TAB

BTW cost will remain left aligned

[LaRetta]

Yes, Cost would remain left-aligned. One merge can only be aligned one way.

Simpler to just use two merge fields. Place Item Name as one merge left-aligned, place Cost as another, right-aligned. Expand each field width to half the page (or whatever is max for each). Each field will expand as needed - Item Name expanding right and Cost expanding left. With both fields within same merge, you can't force them to full-justify and leave extra space in the center (one against left margin and other against right).

I think you could pull this off (in ONE merge) if you calculated the width of the letters (on font and size) and overall width of field (displayed full width) and prefilled with SPACES. If you are interested in this possibility, let us know. Otherwise two merge fields works quite well.

LaRetta

[Raybaudi]

LaRetta said:

One merge can only be aligned one way

No LaRetta

I [color:red]just now discovered that it is possible to format a single merge fields with left and right tabs too.

So create a merge as I said in my first post, go to layout mode,select with "A" tool the merge field and apply to that the formattation via the Format-->Line spacing-->custom-->tabs.

After make some adjustment with the View-->text ruler.

BTW I post an attachment

MergeWithLeftAndRightAlignment.zip

[moxie]

Thanks it worked really well, I knew there must be an easy solution...

[moxie]

I had previously used two merge fields, but it's a very clumsy solution. The <> works a lot better in my case. I've placed a max. character allowance on the ITEM name, then have a ITEM description underneath which allows for more in-depth detail as needed.

[comment]

Oh boy. You two have managed to complicate a simple thing...

First, you don't need a global. If you are placing TWO merge fields in a single text block, you can simply type a regular tab between them.

Next, you can align everything in a single text block - just like you can in a word processor. Usually, you would align the block to the left, make it the width of the entire page, and put a SINGLE tab close to the right edge. Since we're talking about cost, the tab would be set to align on decimal point. Now, if the item name is wider than the page, then you might have a problem. But in such case you would also have a problem with two blocks.

_Clone.fp7.zip

[moxie]

That works fine, if everything was that simple....BUT!!!. I need to add the tab into a calculation field.....Hence the need for the Global.

[comment]

Copy the option-tab from the global field.

Go to the calculation definition, and paste it there (between quotes, of course).

Now you can delete the global.

[Raybaudi]

Hi comment

I discovered all those pretties by this topic ! :