Few things:I think I may finally see why your tabs "disappear". If you're in one paragraph and add tabs using Format > Paragraph > Tabs, you're adding tabs to that paragraph only. Format > Paragraph does not ever modify other non-selected paragraphs. If you then use the arrow keys to move down to another paragraph, the added tabs won't be in that paragraph because you never added them to that paragraph. They haven't "disappeared" because they were never there. Also, tabs are not added to the "top line" only unless the "top line" is the only line in the selected paragraph. Format > Paragraph applies to the whole paragraph, not individual lines. Format > Paragraph is never used to make global changes to paragraphs. That job is for paragraph styles.
1) I have a saved file that's already set up to use. I cleared all the default tabs by going to Tools - Options - General and made a tab at the 9" mark. That clears all the default tabs and since a page is 8.5", there is no "9" tab". But I made a tab at 2.85" - Format - Paragraph - and even as I add paragraphs of text, that tab stays there for the entire document. So that tab is not just a tab for a single paragraph.
I typed out a few lines, "paragraphs," and added a tab at the 2" mark. And that tab does not disappear. So that's contrary to what I said the other day.
2) My document with the disappearing tabs does not have any paragraphs, assuming you define a paragraph with consecutive lines of text and an empty line above and below them. The document is line after line after line, without any blank lines. So it's one long "paragraph." So if the Format - Paragraph window is for just that paragraph, then they shouldn't be disappearing at all.
Then again, the disappearing tabs were inserted after I started, for whatever that's worth.
Again, I said 1) I couldn't duplicate the issue (at the time), 2) I didn't have the time to keep trying to duplicate it, 3) I fixed the problem myself by adding a default tab at .25", 4) when I figured out what the problem was - adding tabs after starting the document - I explained it in detail instead of uploading the file (what's wrong with that?), And 5) I said I don't use tabs often at all. And since I finished the document, there was no need to go any further.It has been asked four times for a file and has been given given detailed instructions how to upload a file but it refuses to help us. The problem could have been solved in fifty words for a non-ranter with
But as I just said, I just tried to add a tab (at 2") after starting a new document. And that's not disappearing. So now I don't know what's going on. I guess Open Office keeps you guessing.
But it seems to me, they're basically telling you to make tabs on paragraph by paragraph basis. And for the most part, when users set tabs it's for the entire document. So it should be set up that way, and the few times someone wants tabs just for a particular paragraph, that's something they'd have to work out.Steve5 wrote:
I have a better idea: Go to Format - Paragraph - Tab tab, and set tabs. (Or Format - and have a Tab setting in the scroll down window, with a Tab icon on the top). And in that Tab window, there would be a box to check or uncheck if you want those tabs just for that paragraph or entire document. And maybe a third box for "Just this page."
I have a more viable idea. Since the Paragraph dialog is used to modify settings for selected paragraphs, just select the paragraphs before selecting Format > Paragraph > Tabs.
It would be a pretty big fundamental change, doubt it would happen. But even a novice would know to go up to Format and poke around to find some kind of tab settings window. "Oh, it happens to be the Paragraph window. Ok, fine." And when a novice sets tabs, we assume it's for the entire document. So "entire document" should be the default, and if you want stand-alone tabs in selected paragraph(s), then that's where you'd do your research, read "the guide," and figure it out.The options you're proposing just change the scope of the selection. You can submit an enhancement request to add the options, but the list of open enhancement requests is already very long.
So I think boxes to check, or uncheck,within the Format - Paragraph - Tab window - is they way to go. But bottom line, when you set a tab, or tabs, it/they should be for the "entire document" by default.