Oct. 2, 2009
Ever wondered how to get tabs to work (for you) in InDesign?
By popular demand Ive added a series of videos explaining the key areas of working with tabs, including: Working with the tabs panel, setting tabs, editing tabs, working with right indents and leaders, aligning to decimals and Working with first line indents.
Hope this helps!
For more information on this topic via Adobe help click here.
[Click play to watch video tutorial, will commence once downloaded in full]
Working with the tabs panel
Setting Tabs
Editing Tabs
Right Indent Tabs & Leaders
Aligning to Decimals
Indents & First Line Indents

12 Responses to “Working with Tabs in InDesign”
this was really helpful. i’ve been trying to figure out tabs for years!
By Andrea on Jan 5, 2010
This tutorial was exactly what I was looking for. Very nicely separated and thorough. Thanks for making my life a little easier!
By Brittany on Jan 6, 2010
Oh wow, great series! Thanks a lot. Just wished there were a tut like these that explained outdents better.
By Amelia on Jan 28, 2010
Thank you for your video’s. You have saved me a lot of time.
If you have other “How To” videos available please let me know.
By Tonya Hill on Mar 5, 2010
The videos cover information I already knew. The question I have is why the Tab ruler (when the document is set for picas) doesn’t put the main tic marks at each pica. It did in MAC. But, I’ve switched to PC and find the tic marks awkward when I want to work in picas.
Thanks.
By Kathy GB on Mar 8, 2010
Please can I ask… in Quark I can do ctrl/ after a tab and it will align all the text below the tab. I can’t seem to find similar in InDesign and have to force return every line. Please could someone let me know how to do this. Many thanks. Geoff
By Geoff Collins on Mar 20, 2010
excellent ! it is very clear the ones I am looking for …
By rosalia Teja on Mar 30, 2010
Awesome tutorial. Thank you.
By Robert Mardo on Mar 30, 2010
These vids have been very helpful. Thanks!
By Rory on Apr 8, 2010
After 12 yrs with Pagemaker, I’ve never hated a program more than I do InDesign. Most info on the web is worthless. But two sentences into your first video on how to set tabs and BLING! Perfect. Thank you so much.
By Marilynn Janiak on Apr 17, 2010
In reply to Kathy’s comment about aligning the text below the tab, in InDesign it’s a special character called “Indent to Here”, which sets an automatic indent location for the rest of the paragraph.
You can find it under “Type” -> “Insert Special Character” -> “Other” -> “Indent to Here”. Hope that helps!
By Diana Watkins on Apr 21, 2010