Microsoft Knowledge Base

• Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Macintosh, version 6.0 and 6.0.1
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

Text may flow into the margin or off the page when the text in a paragraph follows a decimal tab.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Word uses a decimal tab in which to align numbers based on where the decimal point falls. Since a tab is an attribute that is paragraph based, the spacing flow of the paragraph may be affected if there is text that follows the decimal tab. Thus, the word wrapping ability of Microsoft Word will be affected by the amount of text that follows a decimal tab. If there is a small amount of text, then Word may not allow the text to wrap to the next line and may place that text in the right margin of the document. If there is a large amount of text that follows the decimal tab, then Word will allow the text to wrap to the next line, but it will not allow the decimal tab to correctly align the numbers.

WORKAROUND

Use a tab to the right of the decimal tab in the paragraph.

Method 1: Use the default tab position:

          After typing the number at the decimal tab position, press TAB
          and type the text. The text will word-wrap correctly.

          Note: If the start of the text after the tab is not spaced
          correctly, use Method 2 or Method 3.

          a. Select the text you want affected by the tab settings or click
             Select All on the Edit menu.

          b. On the Format menu, click Tabs.

          c. In the Tab Stop Position box, type the ruler setting that
             corresponds to where you want the text to start again to the
             right of the decimal tab aligned number. Under Alignment,
             click Left.

          d. Click the Set button and then click OK.

          e. After typing the number at the decimal tab in the document,
             press Tab again. The insertion point will jump to the position
             established in step c above.

          f. Begin typing. The text will flow normally to the end of the
             line and Word will wrap the text correctly to the next line.

          a. Select the text you want affected by the tab settings or
             click Select All from the Edit menu.

          b. On the Format menu, click Tabs.

          c. In the Tab Stop Position box, type the ruler setting that
             corresponds to the right margin of the document (usually
             6.0"). Under Alignment, and click Right.

          d. Click the Set button and then click OK.

          e. After typing the number at the decimal tab in the document,
             press Tab again. The insertion point will jump to the right
             margin.

          f. Begin typing. The text will flow to the left filling in the
             space from the right margin back to the decimal tab position.
             Once the text is filled in, Word will allow the paragraph to
             wrap correctly to the next line.