Formatting Codes

What are Formatting Codes?

These are special instructions that tell the program how/when to perform a particular function for formatting. The function or change begins at the point where the code was inserted. Some codes are simple. For example:

• whenever you press the <SPACEBAR>, you insert a code for a nonprinting space
• whenever you press <RETURN> / <ENTER>, you insert an end-of-paragraph marker

Text formatting codes act as toggles, that is, there is a “code on” and a “code off”. When the code is “on” the button on the toolbar will be highlighted. For example:

• whenever you bold text as you type
  • you must select bold (to turn bolding on); the bold button becomes highlighted
  • then you type the word(s) to be bolded
  • then you select bold again (to turn it off) when you want to resume normal text; the bold button is no longer highlighted
• whenever you bold text after it has been typed
  • you first select the word(s) to be bolded
  • then select bold; the bold button becomes highlighted
  • the word processor automatically inserts the “on”/“off” codes before and after the word(s)

Paragraph formatting codes also toggle but since they affect the entire paragraph, you simply select the format desired and continue typing paragraph(s) until you wish to change the formatting again. For example:

• whenever you want to create a block style, indented, or hanging indented paragraph, you set the markers in the ruler and continue typing paragraphs; when you wish to change the indentation for a new paragraph, press <RETURN> / <ENTER> to start a new paragraph, and then reset the ruler
• whenever you wish to center a line, right align text, etc., you simply press the appropriate button or select the menu command

Displaying Formatting Codes

Most of these codes can be revealed, that is displayed on screen, by selecting the Show/Hide Paragraphs button. This button also becomes highlighted when “on”, that is, formatted codes are revealed in the text. Some of the codes are:

• raised dot between words indicates that the <SPACEBAR> has been pressed
• the paragraph symbol (¶) indicates that <RETURN> / <ENTER> has been pressed
• an arrow pointing to the right () indicates that the <TAB> key has been pressed

Searching for Formatting Codes

You can use the Find and Replace Dialog Box to search for these codes.

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last updated August 13, 2003