ProTabsXT is an XTension to QuarkXPress that enhances the standard tab capabilities of QuarkXPress. ProTabsXT allows all measurements for a balanced tab table to be calculated automatically. ProTabsXT allows for autogeneration of straddle text as well as straddle rules and now contains AutoVert‚Ñ¢, AutoHoriz‚Ñ¢, AutoBox‚Ñ¢, and AutoTabTable‚Ñ¢, which allow for automatic generation of vertical rules, horizontal rules, anchored boxes, and columnar type tables at each tab. This simplifies the generation of forms and tables such as Radio and TV program listings. Data for AutoTabTable can be imported and set directly.
ProTabs can be activated from the menu bar under menu item Utilities-ProTabs, or more conveniently from palettes selected under menu items View-Straddle Palette and View-Tab Palette. The Straddle Palette is necessary to straddle rules and is not available from the Menu items. The documentation refers only to Palette selections, however any reference to the Tab Palette can be substituted by the Utility-ProTabs menu selections.
Creating a balanced table is a straight forward two step procedure. The Tab Palette contains a series of buttons which control the design and balancing of a table. It controls AutoBox, AutoVert, AutoHoriz, and Multipaging capabilities of ProTabs. The Straddle Palette controls the manual setting of vertical and horizontal rules.
1) Enter basic tab data in the Setup Dialog Box.
From the Tab Palette, (See under View Menu), available from the QuarkXPress View-Tab Palette, select Setup. which will display the Setup dialog box. (See Diagram page 2-3)
A unique box should always be used for a table if more than one table is used in the document. All table setup information is stored along with the box and it is not necessary to setup the tabs more than once unless major redesign is necessary.
Enter the basic tab data.
2) Balance the table.
After highlighting or setting the cursor (caret) to the desired starting point in the table, select Balance from the Tab Palette.
By following the steps in the examples given in the Tabs & Straddles section of the documentation you should gain a thorough understanding of ProTabsXT basic operations.
