Advice on line breaks

[michaelb736111]

Hi, this is my first question on the forum and I'm still fairly inexperienced with indesign.

As you can see from the image, I am trying to create an index of titles. I am using the tab setting to create dotted lines to the corresponding page number. (Ignore the heavy handed drop cap).

My question is how do I create an automated line break at the red marker for text only and make sure that the numbers remain aligned to the right of the text box? I have tried searching for the answer but I'm not sure of what the right terminology for this kind of setting is.

Thanks in advance.

[TᴀW · Accepted solution]

The trick is to apply a right-indent to the paragraph (you're using paragraph styles, I hope, so do it in the paragraph style definition).

And then, you'll notice that InDesign has a "last-line" indent option. Set the last line indent to the opposite of your right indent.

For example, if you set your right indent to 40pt, set the last line indent to -40 points.

Since the page numbers are always on the last line, this effectively means that everything will be pushed away from the right margin except the page numbers on the last line.

By the way, setting tabs for this sort of thing is a little fiddly. InDesign has a character called a "right-indent tab" which pushes all text off to the right margin. It's much easier than setting tabs -- just press Shift+Tab to insert one. I use it all the time.

HTH,

Ariel

[Jongware]

Unfortunately that only works for two or more lines. If you have a single line, followed by a right tab or shift+tab and then the page number, that "last line indent" will not be honored (because it is the last line).

[TᴀW]

Not sure what you mean. The system works fine whether the paragraph in question has one line or more than one. In every case, the shift+tab will push the number to the right. The right indent will push it back leftwards, and finally the negative last line indent will move it to the right again where it needs to be.

Ariel

[FRIdNGE]

Hi Ariel,

Not really and I confirm what Theunis wrote! …

Best,

Michel, from FRIdNGE

[TᴀW]

Michel,

The case you show has to be fixed by adding an em-space or two after the word "et" in your example to force it to wrap to the next line.

HTH,

Ariel

[FRIdNGE]

Ariel,

Still not if tab leaders! …

Best,

Michel

[michaelb736111]

This worked, thank you, it all looks a lot neater!