SET PARAGRAPH INDENT
Sets the number of spaces to be added or subtracted at the start of new
paragraphs---relative to the left margin of the buffer. The setting
applies to new paragraphs or to paragraphs you reformat with FILL
commands.
Examples:
Commands Effects
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SET PARA IND 4 Indents the first line of a new paragraph 4 spaces.
Thus, if the left margin is 1, the first line of a
paragraph will start in column 5, with a shape of
like this:
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SET PARA IND 0 (Default.) New paragraphs will start at the left
margin---no indent---sometimes called a "block"
paragraph:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
SET PARA IND -3 Subtracts 3 spaces at the start of a new paragraph
---sometimes called an "outdent" or "hanging"
paragraph with the first line left of the left
margin. Thus, if the left margin is 8, the first
line of a paragraph will start in column 5. This
lets you format lists with a number or "bullet" to
the left of the text:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Usage notes:
o SET PARAGRAPH INDENT does not by itself reformat existing text. The
setting applies to new paragraphs or to paragraphs you reformat with
FILL commands.
o Paragraph boundaries are any of the following:
* Blank line
* Top or bottom of the buffer
* Page break (form feed at the start of a line)
* RUNOFF command (such as .BREAK;) at the start of a line
* VAX DOCUMENT tag (such as <LE>) at the start of a line
o The sum of the paragraph indent and left margin must be less than the
right margin and (in the case of a negative indent) at least 1. For
example, to set the paragraph indent to -3, your left margin must be at
least 4. To find out the current settings, use the SHOW command.
o Paragraph indent is a buffer attribute---you can have a different
setting for each buffer you edit. For example, editing a source program
in one buffer, you can use a paragraph indent of 0; editing a memo in
another buffer, you can use a paragraph indent of 3.
o To set the same paragraph indent for all your buffers, use an
initialization file (typically named EVE$INIT.EVE) containing the SET
PARAGRAPH INDENT command you want and use that file when you invoke
EVE. See help on Initialization Files.
o Paragraph indent set by command is relative to the current left margin
of the buffer; set with the WPS Ruler key (GOLD-R), it is independent
of the left margin.
o If the paragraph indent is not 0, you cannot use FILL or FILL RANGE to
reformat a range unless the range starts at the start of a paragraph.
o On DECwindows, you can set the paragraph indent as follows:
1. Choose Set Paragraph Indent from the Format menu or choose
Buffer Attributes from the Customize menu.
2. A dialog box appears in which you type the indent you want.
Related topics:
Defaults FILL SET LEFT MARGIN SHOW