Extra space at beginning of line

[williamhbenson]

In certain lines of text, within certain documents, I have noticed a ghost space appears. For example, when I space five spaces from the left margin to begin a new paragraph, an extra space will appear and force itself in, to result in six spaces. It then continues to insert itself throughout the line of text. I have tried to delete it. i have tried to backspace it out, but it remains. What must I do to get rid of this extra ghost space?
Bill

[RoryOF]

You should not need to space five spaces to begin a new paragraph. Modify your paragraph style, selecting the Indents and Spacing tab, and enter a value in "First Line"; this value can be entered using pt., cm., in. - any of the measurements OpenOffice understands. Alternately leave that value at zero and click "Automatic" checkbox and you will get an automatic first line indent of about 1 cm. (approx 3/8 inch)

I cannot guess why your extra space is being inserted - a short sample file uploaded to the forum might help diagnosis.

[williamhbenson]

Here is an example. I cannot remove that extra space at the beginning of each paragraph. It then inserts itself throughout the line of text. If I backspace some of the text further in the line, I can see that ghost about five or six places back within the text.

Paine recognizes the danger when a man or a woman assumes a position of power and receives pay for his or her work. He would prefer that people work for free, as he did. “All the great services that are done in the world are performed by volunteer characters, who accept nothing for them.” Paine refused his books' royalties, and was forced to beg state and federal governments for relief. Few office holders would choose as he did, but still he warns his readers, “When extraordinary power and extraordinary pay are allotted to any individual in a government, he becomes the center, round which every kind of corruption generates and forms.”

Bill

[RoryOF]

Unfortunately, your sample inline in your reply is of no use, as the Forum software interferes with it. Please upload a sample file; the upload tab is on the PostReply or FullEditor screens, below the submit button, not on the QuickReply screen.

[keme]

A shot in the dark:
You are using "aligned""justified" (aka. "block aligned") paragraph formatting to achieve straight left and right margins.

To achieve this alignment, Writer will adjust the space width for each line of text (except, usually, the last line of each paragraph). If you start with five spaces, the adjustment on the left, as you reach the first line wrap, will be five times as much as the adjustment of spaces between words.

to resolve:
The sensible approach: RoryOF's suggestion for paragraph styles.
The lazy approach: use tab instead of spaces.

Edit: For clarification: where keme writes "aligned", this is normally termed "justified". (RoryOF, Moderator)

Edit: Thanks RoryOF! Edited accordingly. (keme)

[RoryOF]

To determine if actual spaces are being inserted, or if spaces are being widened in the process of justification of the lines, as keme suggests, turn on /View /Non Printing Characters.

This will show Paragraph marks at end of paragraphs (a backwards P character), line breaks (left pointing hooked arrow), tabs (right pointing straight arrow) and a raised dot for every space. If the spaces are being widened, then the five spaces the OP is inserting at beginning of paragraph will show as five raised dots. If an extra space is being inserted, then the five raised dots will turn into six raised dots.

This is a non printing display, which many using Writer for extended documents will leave turned on all the time. It can be turned off by unchecking /View /non Printing Characters.