HT2523: Mac Basics: TextEdit

Learn about Mac Basics: TextEdit
JE125
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: How do you set margins and tabs in TextEdit, or where can I find info?

I'm a  non-apple user yet, but am trying to help my brother with his TextEdit program.  He needs to set margins and tabs for paper, but I don't know this program and it's hidden secrets.  I've tried looking it up online, but had no luck.  Any kind souls out there that will give me the basics, or at least a place to find the info.  Thanks for any help!

Posted on Apr 16, 2013 7:08 AM

by JE125,Solvedanswer
JE125 JE125
Level 1 (0 points)
A:

Thanks for the help!  I knew it was there somewhere--- just didn't know the secrets! 

Posted on Apr 16, 2013 8:23 AM

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JE125

Q: How do you set margins and tabs in TextEdit, or where can I find info?

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  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Apr 16, 2013 7:24 AM in response to JE125
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Apr 16, 2013 7:24 AM in response to JE125

    He just drags the margin and tab icons where he wants them, or he can click in the ruler to set a new tab stop.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-04-16 at 8.20.27 AM.png

     

    He can choose the type of tab stop to set by right-clicking in the ruler bar. If he doesn't see the ruler bar, he needs to make sure that the document is Rich Text, then to to Format -> Text -> Show Ruler.

     

    Regards.

  • by Topher Kessler,Helpful

    Topher Kessler Topher Kessler Apr 16, 2013 7:31 AM in response to JE125
    Level 6 (9,866 points)
    Apr 16, 2013 7:31 AM in response to JE125

    First make sure your document is an RTF (rich text) document. This is the default format, but can be done in the Format menu where you will have an option to "Make Plain Text" or "Make Rich Text" (if the option here says "Make plain text" then you are already in RTF format and are good to go).

     

    Next press Command-R to toggle the ruler, where you can drag the little triangles to set tab locations.

     

    For margins, you can drag the small downward-facing arrows on this toolbar to the desired location, but there are not vertical margin options in TextEdit.

     

    If you want more formatting options, then you will need a more advanced editor. Some popular ones are of course Microsoft Word and Apple's Pages, but there is the free OpenOffice (or NeoOffice, or Libreoffice) in addition to Bean and Mellel.

  • by JE125,Solvedanswer

    JE125 JE125 Apr 16, 2013 8:23 AM in response to Topher Kessler
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 16, 2013 8:23 AM in response to Topher Kessler

    Thanks for the help!  I knew it was there somewhere--- just didn't know the secrets! 

  • by en maschera,

    en maschera en maschera May 11, 2016 7:33 AM in response to JE125
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2016 7:33 AM in response to JE125

    You may find that you cannot set the margins smaller than the 1" default; however, there is a workaround.

    Create a document in another text application with 0" margins, then open and save it in TextEdit.

    I used Tex-Edit to create a 0" margin document I named "ZeroMargins."

    I then opened and saved this document in TextEdit.

    Additionally, I put the saved TextEdit document in the Dock to use as a template.

    A bit of a pain, but it works.