Can't clear tabs

[jeff]

when typing an entire line in word and automatically
going to the next line, i cannot indent the beginning of
the second line using the cursor. nothing happens. when
i get it to work (with help from someone) i want to
indent to my liking, not to microsoft's. below are the
instructions from the help page in word for clearing
tabs...it is an impossibility to drag ther tab marker
DOWN. try it. so, what can i do? any help will be
greatly appreciated. Jeff

HELP INSTRUCTIONS...Clear or move tab stops
Select the paragraph in which you want to clear or move a
tab stop.
To clear a tab stop, drag the tab marker down from the
horizontal ruler.
To move a tab stop, drag the tab marker to the right or
left on the horizontal ruler.

 

[Jezebel]

The instructions you quote are exactly the way I do it. Drag the tab marker
down (off the ruler) to remove it. Drag an existing tab left or right to
reposition it. Drag from the tab button at the far left of the ruler to add
a new tab.

Alternatively, go to Format > Tabs and set your tabs up manually. Or, to set
the tabs for your normal paragraphs, go to Format > Style > Modify.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The instructions refer to clearing tab stops that you have manually set;
they do not apply to Word's built-in tab stops, which by default are at a
0.5" interval. There is no way to clear these except by setting your own tab
stops, which clears all the built-in stops to the left of the one you set.

There are two things you are doing wrong here:

1. You are not setting custom tabs (see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/SettingTabs.htm).

2. You are trying to use a tab at the beginning of a wrapped line. Word
(unlike WordPerfect) doesn't work this way. There are several ways to
accomplish what you're trying to do, depending on what that is:

a. Start a new paragraph and indent it.

b. Start a new line (by inserting a line break using Ctrl+Shift+Enter)
and press Tab to go to a defined tab stop.

c. Create a hanging indent and let Word wrap the paragraph naturally to
that point.

 

[J Brydle]

Another possibility is that you just aren't clicking in the right place. Tab
markers can be very tricky and annoying for new users, or people who haven't
perfected mouse skills. Microsoft didn't help matters either by making the
tab markers so darn small, and for some reason if you click in the upper
section of the ruler, you cannot move/clear/set tab markers. The mouse cursor
must be in the lower portion of the ruler (still on the white part, but lower
than the little ticks between numbers) for it to work. I have taught quite a
few beginners how to use tabs, and invariably someone is "unable" to set tab
stops because they are clicking just too high. As for moving and clearing, if
this is the problem, just keep trying, you'll get it eventually. You have to
click on the vertical part of the "L"; the horizontal part will just set a
new tab. It is only a tiny little area to click in, so you need a steady hand
and patience. When you drag it down, it will turn grey (but stay on the ruler
as long as the mouse button is held) and the vertical dotted line will
dissappear. When you release the button the tab marker will be gone.
Good luck!