WD98: Incorrect Tab Settings Using WordBasic.FormatTabs

ID: Q181290

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use positional arguments instead of named arguments for the WordBasic.FormatTabs command, incorrect tab settings are made. For example, the following sample WordBasic code produces incorrect tab settings:

   Sub TestTabs()
      WordBasic.FormatTabs "2 in", , 3, 2, 1, 0, 0
   End Sub

After running this example, a right tab with a period leader is set at 2 inches when the expected result would be a decimal tab with a hyphen leader set at 2 inches.

WORKAROUND

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   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Add an Extra Comma for the Positional Arguments

Correct the order of the arguments by adding an extra comma, as in the following example:

   WordBasic.FormatTabs "2 in",,,3,2,1,0,0

Method 2: Use Named Arguments

Modify the statement to use named arguments, as in the following example:

   WordBasic.FormatTabs Position := "2 in", Align := 3, \ 
   Leader := 2, Set := 1

MORE INFORMATION

Following is the position order of the arguments for FormatTabs.

   FormatTabs [.Position = text] [.DefTabs = text] [.Align = number]
   [.Leader = number] [.Set] [.Clear] [.ClearAll]

   .Position   Position of the tab stop in a text measurement.

   .DefTabs    Position for default tab stops in the document in points or
               a text measurement.

   .Align      Alignment of the tab stop:

                  0 (zero)    Left
                  1           Center
                  2           Right
                  3           Decimal
                  4           Bar

   .Leader     The leader character for the tab stop:

                  0 (zero)    None
                  1           Period
                  2           Hyphen
                  3           Underscore

   .Set        Sets the specified custom tab stop.

   .Clear      Clears the specified custom tab stop.

   .ClearAll   Clears all custom tab stops.

In the versions of Word listed at the beginning of this article, WordBasic has been replaced with Visual Basic for Applications. For backward compatibility, Visual Basic for Applications contains a WordBasic object. To ensure that the WordBasic command and arguments are positioned correctly, use the Position.hlp file for Word for Windows version 6.x.

NOTE: If your programming language was written to call WordBasic commands, and you are anticipating interacting with the Microsoft Word Visual Basic for Applications language for all future development needs, you should convert your code from WordBasic to Microsoft Word Visual Basic for Applications.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163618
   TITLE     : WD97: Writing Macro Code for Word 97 and Word 7.x
               (Branching)

REFERENCES

For more information about getting help with Visual Basic for Applications, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode OffVBA macword98 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 7, 1999