Tab Leader distance from characters

[kristenm34219325]

Hi. I'm working on a piece for a client, and they've requested that all tab leaders line up the same space from each character. Problem is, I'm not sure how to control that. I'm attaching a screenshot of the problem, you'll see that the distance from where the tab leader starts relative to the letter is different, even for the same letter. Especially note the two instances of Date and how where the line starts.

Any ideas?

[John Mensinger]

I'm sure there is more than one way to go about what you want, but whenever I need the kind of consistency you describe, I do this:

Select all. Then choose Justification from the Paragraph panel menu and set it like this:

[kristenm34219325]

Hi John, thanks. I tried that, but it didn't have any effect on spacing.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Not really sure we use the same way! 

Some words! … at 4,000% zoom! 

Same space before/after!

(^/)

[kristenm34219325]

Can you tell me a little bit about how you created those?

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

I use a para style with a para rule and the text is inserted in anchored inline text frames that allow a real control by The Force on the space before/after using the marging of the text boxes. My reference is the lettre "F"!

Always so simple when done by a Jedi! 

(^/)

[kristenm34219325]

Ah! Thanks so much for sharing. It looks very nice, however, I'm interested in getting the same effects using tabs and tab leaders.

[Scott Falkner]

I would use a custom underline applied to the tab. Use Nested Styles to make all tabs underlined. The space before the tabs is a thin space (Command+Option+Shift+M), the space after the tab is an en space (Command+Shift+N).

[tpk1982]

The alignment difference because of the following factors..

1) Font nature (serif or sanserif)

2) Ligature

3) Of course the word spacing setting in Justification

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi Scott,

Good idea but no enough effect! 

… Just need to correct the width of the thin spaces with some Grep styles, playing with different "approaches"! 

E.g.:

(^/)

[kristenm34219325]

Hello master Jedi,

Thank you for all the time you've spent on this issue! I really appreciate it. I'm going to use what you've done here and massage the text until it looks right.