Skip to main content
P
pierret18811376
Inspiring
May 28, 2023
Answered

how to create a dotted line

  • May 28, 2023
  • 6 replies
  • 1205 views

Hello,

On an empty line in Frame Maker, I would like to create a dotted line on
all the width of the column. How to do this ?

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi Pierre:

 

Using either technique already mentioned (leader dots with a tab stop or a reference page frame), the line is going to move as you edit the text. That's normally the goal when you use a line as a division between sections.

 

If you want to add a line that you can move, and won't move until you move it, you can draw it with the line drawing tool in the Graphics toolbar (View > Toolbars > Graphics Toolbar.) The Graphics Toolbar also has formatting options, including dashes, color, choices, and line thickness.

 

This is how I added line above the footer, but on the master pages. 

 

~Barb

 

 

6 replies

P
pierret18811376Author
Inspiring
May 31, 2023

Hi Barb,

I have succeeded to create an horizontal line by using Shift key. You are right : the most difficult is to hold/release Shift at the good moment !

    P
    pierret18811376Author
    Inspiring
    May 31, 2023

    Finally I prefer the technique of drawing a dotted line and move it towards the bottom.

    But when I draw this line with the mouse, how to have a line perfectly horizontal by drawing it ? 

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 31, 2023

    Hi Pierre:

     

    With the Shift key. Hold Shift before you begin to draw the line, and release Shift after you release the mouse when you finish. Timing is everything.

     

    Alternatively, you can select the line and open Graphics > Object Properties > Dimensions. For a horizontal line, the height has to be 0.

     

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      P
      pierret18811376Author
      Inspiring
      May 29, 2023

      I gone in "object properties" to see the width.

      I succeeded to do a dotted line like this (by entering the real width value) :

       

      Now, I tried to move this dotted line towards the bottom (move only the dotted line) : I don't succeded it (it moves the dotted line towards the bottom but also the next paragraph). How to move only the dotted line ?

      QuintinSeegers
      QuintinSeegers
      Legend
      May 29, 2023

      Remember that the dotted line is a paragraph, so any content below it, will simply move down when you add anything above it.

      Best to show Text Symbols (View menu > Text Symbols). This will show the Text Symbols and you'll probably see something like this:

      In the above example, there are two blank lines below the dotted line, before the next paragraph. When you instert a blank line above the dotten line (to move the line down), it pushes any lines that follow down as well:

      You would need to remove the additional blank lines above the second paragraph to move it back up again:

      This should give you this result, with Text Symbols showing:

      With the Text Symbols not showing:

       

       

       

        P
        pierret18811376Author
        Inspiring
        May 29, 2023

        I begin to do it, but I wonder how to know exactly the width of the column (see red arrows) in order to enter the good value ?

         

        K.Daube
        Community Expert
        K.DaubeCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        May 29, 2023

        Another method which copes with various column width uses a frame on the reference page:

        • Set up a graphic frame (named for example DottedLine). Do not forget to put also a text line above it as label (the already present frames have).
        • Set the frame height small and the width as wide as possible (e.g. full paper width).
        • Set up a paragraph format - probably with a small font size - with no space above and below, but using a frame above (or below):
        • The thickness of the dots depends on the line thickness (in the first method the thickness depends on the font size of the pargraph).
        P
        pierret18811376Author
        Inspiring
        May 28, 2023

        I give you a screenshot of what I would like to do in a Frame Maker column (see red arrow) :

         

          QuintinSeegers
          QuintinSeegers
          Legend
          May 29, 2023

          As @K.Daube suggested, create a Paragraph Style with a tab stop as wide a the text frame:

          (In this example, the text frame has a left margin of 2cm and is 16cm wide.)

          When you apply the Paragraph Style, it will create a dotted line spanning the width of the text frame:

           

           

          K.Daube
          Community Expert
          K.DaubeCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 28, 2023

          Create a paragraph format (e.g. named Dottie line) which has an auto-number just containing "\t" (without the quotes - that is, defining a TAB).And set a Right Tab at he far right (If the tagest frame is 18cm wide, set the tab position at 17.95cm), and set pagination to witching Text Column (just from the top of my head). Do not forget to define the required leader dots in the tab setting.

          Then when You  have an empty paragraph and apply this format you get all the dots..

          Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
          Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices