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Is there a way to line up the periods that come after footnote numbers? I can't figure out how to automatically insert a tab before the numbers so that I can set the first tab as a decimal tab. Here is how I want the footnotes to look:
9. Footnote text
10. Footnote text
See ETAs. You can add a tab, but you can't specify it to appear automatically.
Got it. Thanks, @James Gifford—NitroPress.
@Wren5FB9L: You can use a GREP Find/Change to assign the leading tabs all at one time. If the style has the tabs set us per @Steve Werner, the periods will line up at at point.
~Barb
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You can create a Paragraph Style for format the footnote in Type > Document Footnote Options.
In the Paragraph Style, go to Tabs and set a right aligned tab for the number followed by a period, and a second tab aligned left for the footnote text.
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I don't think this works, Steve. Footnotes can't begin with a leading tab, unless I've missed something on several rounds of trying to achieve this formatting. ETA: It works only with a manual tab added. I'm not sure that worked in some prior version, though.
It does work for every other numbering setup, AFAIK.
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Steve: I just keystroked this (and every other combination of options I could think of) but was unsuccessful.
~Barb
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ID does not allow you to lead the footnote configuration string with a tab. It's a hole in the capabilities, IMHO.
I am not sure there's another workaround to get this format, which is both my preference and (I believe) the proper layout.
ETA: If you set up the paragraph style with tabs, as Steve suggests, you can manually add the first tab after the footnote is created. I'd forgotten that. 😛 Still a hack that should not be needed.
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James,
I think you're right. I had never done it but I realize that in InDesign the footnote cannot consist of <number> < period> <tab><footnote text>.
The number has to be the same number as the footnote reference in the text.
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See ETAs. You can add a tab, but you can't specify it to appear automatically.
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Essentially, you cannot automate footnoting in InDesign that contains a tab or a period.
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ETA: If you set up the paragraph style with tabs, as Steve suggests, you can manually add the first tab after the footnote is created. I'd forgotten that. 😛 Still a hack that should not be needed.
Ok, can you share a screen shot, James? I can't figure it out.
~Barb
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You can't add the tab in the setup or automatically. However, once a footnote is added, you can manually add the tab in front of the generated number.
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Got it. Thanks, @James Gifford—NitroPress.
@Wren5FB9L: You can use a GREP Find/Change to assign the leading tabs all at one time. If the style has the tabs set us per @Steve Werner, the periods will line up at at point.
~Barb
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Very clever, thanks, Barb and James!
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The collaboration is one of the parts of the forum I like best.
~Barb
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Thanks so much! This solution is going to save me a ton of time. I really appreciate the help.
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