Absolute Tab

Also known as: Tab to column #.

What you need to know first: the different kinds of Tab alignment.

See also: [tab...] and an example use with [lps] (which saves the current line position).

Code Used: [taaP:A:F~X]

Keystroke: (None)

What does it do?

It places text at a specific column, according to a selected alignment.

Where would it be used?

To position text very precisely. (Note how the characters in bold below are aligned precisely under each other.)

Normal tab               Cents
Right tab          Dollars
Decimal tab            30.52
Centered tab           Total
Part fill tab ....... Part
Full fill tab............Full

Usage in DBT:

Normal tab [taa25]Cents
Right tab [taa25:r]Dollars
Decimal tab [taa25:d]30.52
Centered tab [taa25:c]Total
Part fill tab [taa25:r:p~-]Part
Full fill tab [taa25:l:f~-]Full

Produces in Braille:

,normal tab             ,c5ts

,"r tab           ,doll>s

,decimal tab         #cj.eb

,c5t]$ tab           ,total

,"p fill tab -------- ,"p

,full fill tab----------,full

Let us explain!

[taa25] on its own, or [taa25:L], causes the next word to begin in cell 25. (Left alignment is the default if none is specified.)

[taa25:R] causes the next word to be positioned so that its last character is in cell 25.

[taa25:D] positions a number such that the decimal point is in cell 25.

[taa25:C] centers the next word on cell 25.

[taa25:R:p~-] positions the next word with its last character in cell 25 and partially fills the intervening cells with leader dots (3,6).

[taa25:L:f~-] positions the next word to begin in cell 25 and fully fills the intervening cells with leader dots (3,6).

Notes:

Take care with positioning because text can be overwritten. [taa] causes tabulation to be done as specified on the current line regardless of the current position.

You may position a group of two or more words using the Group Codes [:] and [;].

Fill characters: a hyphen (-) produces the leader dots 3,6. A double quote mark (") produces dot 5. For other options see the Embosser Character Table.

For the more technical:

See [taaP:A:F~X] in the DBT Codes Quick Reference.