Paragraph style - begin with 3 spaces

[CNH]

My publisher requires that normal text paragraphs begin with no indent and 3 spaces.

Is there any way of defining a paragraph style to do this?



Many thanks.

[Charles Kenyon]

There is no way to do this as a paragraph style. My suggestion would be to simply set the first-line indent for the style to the location you would get with three spaces.

Using spaces for placement is a holdover from using typewriters.
4. Use Tables and Tabs to Arrange Text in Microsoft Word
3. Using Styles to Format Text

Would your publisher, instead, accept space between paragraphs, perhaps in a block style?

[CNH]

It might seem old fashioned, but that's what they want - 3 spaces. Apparently it makes it easier when they are feeding it into their desktop publishing program.

[gmayor]

In that case you will have to tap the space bar three times, because text (which is what spaces are) is not included in a style. Or you could ignore the spaces and apply the spaces to text in the normal style with a macro or the replace function e.g.

Sub Macro1()
Dim oPara As Paragraph
    For Each oPara In ActiveDocument.Paragraphs
        If oPara.Style = "Normal" Then
            Do While oPara.Range.Characters(1) = Chr(32)
                oPara.Range.Characters(1).Delete
            Loop
            oPara.Range.InsertBefore "   "
        End If
    Next oPara
lbl_Exit:
    Set oPara = Nothing
    Exit Sub
End Sub

[CNH]

My word, that's an interesting solution! I'll give it a go.

[Charles Kenyon]

A couple of other alternatives:

1. An AutoText entry consisting of three spaces and the paragraph mark. You could assign that to a keyboard shortcut.
2. A macro to begin a new paragraph and press the spacebar three times. That could be recorded and could be assigned to a keyboard shortcut.

I think that macro would work best. You do NOT want to assign it to the Enter key but perhaps Ctrl+Shift+Enter. (That is assigned to Insert Column Break by default.) Don't know that this is any easier than pressing the spacebar yourself.


I like Graham's macro. It can be run repeatedly without adding more spaces where it had already been run. Note, tab is treated as text and will not be replaced by the spaces, you would need to use the Replace function for that. In case you need it, here are his instructions for Installing Macros.

[macropod]

Cross-posted at: https://www.office-forums.com/thread...style.2350214/
For cross-posting etiquette, please read: http://www.excelguru.ca/content.php?184

[slaycock]

Define a multilevel list. For level 1 put the number as three spaces. Ensure that there is no indenting and that the symbol to follow the number is set to nothing. Link the level 1 to the style Normal.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by slaycock

Define a multilevel list. For level 1 put the number as three spaces. Ensure that there is no indenting and that the symbol to follow the number is set to nothing. Link the level 1 to the style Normal.

Interesting and ingenious idea. I don't think I would want the Normal style given an outline level, myself. That is going to really mess with the document structure.

In addition, although it may be three spaces in the definition, there are not three editable spaces in the text, just the block of space.

I would recommend using Graham's macro instead. It is less likely to result in other issues both with your document and your publisher.

Here is the definition dialog which you reach by pressing the "More" button.
00 deleteme 1.png

[slaycock]

The real problem here is that the publisher doesn't know how to use their publishing software properly so pushed the problem onto authors.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by slaycock

The real problem here is that the publisher doesn't know how to use their publishing software properly so pushed the problem onto authors.

I agree, however, this is like the situation of the "boss" who wants things done his/her way. There is a terrific power imbalance.

[macropod]

There is also no such thing as a standard 'three spaces' definition. Three spaces in what font and at what point size (it's different for every font & point size)?

Moreover, if you're using justification, the 'three spaces' will expand or shrink to accommodate that! Consequently, every paragraph in your document could have a different 'three spaces' interpretation...