ProTabsXT can be operated from the Palettes which contains all of the controls necessary to create or modify tables and generate straddles and rules.
Access the palettes via the View-Show Straddle Palette, Show Tab Palette menu options. The palettes may be moved anywhere on the screen for your convenience.
The Straddle Palette contains three groups of controls.
1-2. The left half of the palette, (groups one and two) include radio buttons, and data entry areas which are used to specify column, gutter, position, weight, and, offset for rules and straddles. For rules the starting position is not used, instead the caret is placed at the appropriate screen
position.
3. Group three contains the command buttons to Straddle rules and text.
Group One
Straddle Start:
This area of the Straddle Palette allows the user to select the starting column or gutter to begin the straddle. The straddle measurement point may begin at the left of the selected gutter or column, or the center of the gutter or column. Select the appropriate radio buttons to accomplish this.
Enter the gutter or column number in the data entry point of the area, only for straddling text. Remember that the gutters are to the left of the associated column and that gutter 1 is normally set to zero. The gutter between column 1 and 2 is accessed by entering 2 in the data field and selecting gutter as the starting point. Selecting Left causes the straddle to start at the left of either the selected column or gutter and selecting Center causes the straddle to start at the selected column or gutter center. The offset allows the straddle start to be finely adjusted from the point selected by the use of the above options. Whether horizontal or vertical straddles are finally selected, this group always selects the horizontal starting point of the straddle. Note that when straddling text, the selected text will center itself in the selected straddle. It is possible to force the straddled text to be set flush to the start of the straddle area by selecting the straddle end point to be the same as the start and ensuring that the text width is greater than the selected straddle area.
Although it is possible to tab to a column and then to generate a straddle text, it is preferable to initiate all straddles from column 1 and if more than one straddle is on the same line to create them in order from left to right, allowing the cursor to remain at the end of the prior straddle. This will allow rebalancing to be unaffected by the straddles. All lines that do not contain a tab code are ignored by the rebalancing operation. If you want to include data in column 1 for balancing purposes, include a tab prior to the return code. All rules and straddles start at the selected caret point adjusted by the radio buttons and offsets in group 1.
An alternative method for straddling text and rules is discussed under AutoBox and AutoRules.
Group Two
Straddle End:
This area of the straddle palette allows the user to select the ending column or gutter to end the straddle. The ending may be at the right or center of the appropriate measurement point. Select these via the radio buttons. Enter the ending column or gutter in the data entry box. The ending column or gutter must be greater than or equal to the starting column or gutter. The maximum number of columns is controlled by the limit set in QuarkXPress (20);
When straddling rules the weight entry is in default units.
To select the top end of a vertical rule place the caret at the line where you want to terminate the top end of the rule. If you desire to fine adjust this point, use the Y offset top in group 1 to accomplish this. The base of the vertical rule can be adjusted by entering an appropriate value in Y Offset Bot in group 1. Positive values move the rule point being adjusted downward and negative values move the rule point upwards on the page. Select a number between 1 and 10 in the straddle end entry and press the Vertical Rule Top button in this group. The physical vertical point will be stored in a memory area. It is possible to select up to ten different vertical points in this way.
Group Three
Straddle, AutoVert:
Straddle_ straddles horizontal rules or highlighted text between start and end points set in groups 1 and 2.
Straddle | straddles vertical rules between the current caret point and the Top Of Rule point stored in the end straddle. The horizontal starting point of the rule is set up in group 1.
AutoVert Pressing this button will generate a vertical rule at the current gutter whose height will be the height of the current row plus any offsets entered in group 1.
