Pages Paragraph/Subparagraph Indentation Help Please

[jparker402]

In a thread on Microsoft Office vs Apple Office Apps, I posted a comment about my problem with Pages: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/microsoft-office-vs-apple-office-apps.2213118/post-28136297 at #92. Yipes! Thought my specific comment would come up but no! Well, Pages does a great job of copying the style I want to use on indentation, except for the first subparagraph. (Wish it would just let me type like on a manual typewriter.)

Basically, I can indent the first subparagraph fine, but when I start the second subparagraph, it changes the indentation on the first, but then holds all following subparagraphs fine. I would illustrate it exactly here, but the word processing function in Macrumors won't allow me to repeat Pages' errors. But I will try to describe it.

1. Here I have put in a paragraph that I want to be #1. I continue to type to make sure that it goes until i have a second line - thusly.

2. At this point where I type in a #2, Pages moves the second line of the first paragraph to the right to the point that the h in have is directly below the H in here. And there seems to be nothing I can do to change it.

I hope this is clear enough. I am hoping someone can guide me out of this irritation with Pages. Only wish Pages word processing worked like Macrumors".

 

[jparker402]

Some time ago I called an app person at Apple Help, and was told there was nothing to do about it; that is just the way Pages is. And I remember that same person suggested TextEdit. I am starting to explore that tonight. TextEdit looks like it is probably as close to a Royal manual typewriter app as I am likely to find!

 

[Nigel Goodman]

I'm trying to replicate what you are seeing, but cannot. I typed your paragraphs and got this:

Have you tried using Styles? This is a bullet number style:

I would remove the typed original numbers of course to make this correct.

Or have you tried setting the ruler to how you want it? This is the indent set by holding down the Command key and dragging the left edge marker in the ruler:

 

[jparker402]

Perhaps it is the way I am typing it in. Having read your response, I was hopeful that some new update helped, but no. I have the same result as always. When I add #2, #1 ident moves.

But let me explain exactly what I am doing. I am not using tab or anything except just typewriter keystrokes. I type the leading paragraph, then type "1." and two spaces, type the first subparagraph, then type "2." to begin the next subparagraph when the first subparagraphs indentation changes.

I have tried neither the Styles nor setting the ruler. Have never used those. Will have to try. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Nigel Goodman]

Styles are definitely the way to go. All serious word processing users should spend a little while learning about them. They are extremely useful and save loads of work later.

BTW I used the tab key for the space between the number and the text. Again tabs ensure that columns line up as they should. This actually might be the cause of your problem.

 

[Eliott69]

But let me explain exactly what I am doing. I am not using tab or anything except just typewriter keystrokes. I type the leading paragraph, then type "1." and two spaces, type the first subparagraph, then type "2." to begin the next subparagraph when the first subparagraphs indentation changes.

Go to "Preferences" > "Auto-correction" > "Automatically detect lists" and uncheck the checkbox. Problem solved.

FYI a "tab" is a typewriter keystroke and has been around since more than 100 years...

 

[jparker402]

Go to "Preferences" > "Auto-correction" > "Automatically detect lists" and uncheck the checkbox. Problem solved.

FYI a "tab" is a typewriter keystroke and has been around since more than 100 years...

Thanks! Will check out the auto-correct. Am slowly finding info on the internet and in Pages help about using this program. I know about tabs (learned on a manual typewriter) but haven't figured out how to set them easily in Pages yet. (It was easy on a Smith Corona!)

 

[Eliott69]

Menu > View > Show Rulers, then click on the ruler to set a tab, then right click on the ruler to choose the tab type (left aligned, right aligned, etc.).
To move a tab, drag it within the ruler.
To delete a tab drag it away from the ruler.