Paragraph Format

Paragraph Format

The appearance of each particular paragraph is controlled by its Paragraph Format.

The Paragraph Format includes the following characteristics.

Alignment

This characteristic controls how the text is positioned within a paragraph line (the left and right sides of the paragraph (the paragraph edges) are marked on the following images with the vertical red lines).

You can use the following hot keys and toolbar buttons to apply different alignments to the selected paragraphs.

Alignment Hot Key Toolbar Button
Left Ctrl+L
Right Ctrl+R
Centered Ctrl+E
Justified Ctrl+J

Left Indent

Left Indent determines the distance between the left page margin and the left edge of the paragraph.

You can quickly increase the Left Indent for the selected paragraphs (to indent paragraph lines to the left) either by clicking the toolbar button, or by pressing the Ctrl+M keys.

The reverse operation – decrease left indent – can be performed either by clicking the toolbar button, or by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+M keys.

You can also change the Left Indent for the selected paragraphs using the Ruler.

Right Indent

Right Indent determines the distance between the right page margin and the right edge of the paragraph.

You can change the Right Indent for the selected paragraphs using the Ruler.

First Line

First Line determines position of the left side of the first paragraph line in comparing to the rest lines of the same paragraph.

You can quickly outdent the first lines of the selected paragraphs (to shift the first lines to the left in comparing to rest lines) either by clicking the toolbar button, or by pressing the Ctrl+T keys.

The reverse operation – decrease first line indent (shift the first lines to the right in comparing to rest lines) – can be performed either by clicking the toolbar button, or by pressing the Ctrl+Shift+T keys.

You can also change the First Line for the selected paragraphs using the Ruler.

Spacing Before & After

The Spacing Before is the additional space that is added above the first line of the paragraph.

The Spacing After is the additional space that is added under the last line of the paragraph.

On the following picture the Spacing Before area is displayed with yellow color, the Spacing After area – with aqua color.

You can quickly add or remove additional space(s) before a selection of paragraphs by clicking the toolbar button, or by pressing the Ctrl+0 keys.

To add or remove additional space(s) after a selection of paragraphs, click the toolbar button, or press the Ctrl+Shift+0 keys.

To add or remove additional space(s) both before and after a selection of paragraphs, click the toolbar button, or press the Shift+Alt+0 keys.

Line Spacing

Line Spacing determines height of each line of the paragraph.

You can use the following hot keys and toolbar buttons to apply different line spacings to the selected paragraphs.

Line Spacing Hot Key Toolbar Button
Single Ctrl+1
1.5 lines Ctrl+5
Double Ctrl+2

Keep With Next Paragraph

If this attribute is set, Atlantis attempts to place this paragraph and the following paragraph onto the same page.

If the Special Symbols mode is on, and if a particular paragraph has this attribute set, the image might be displayed in the left margin opposite the first line of this paragraph.

Keep Intact

If this attribute is set, Atlantis attempts to place all the lines of this paragraph on the same page (Atlantis attempts to not break this paragraph, keep it intact).

If the Special Symbols mode is on, and if a particular paragraph has this attribute turned on, the image might be displayed in the left margin opposite the first line of this paragraph.

Page Break Before

If this attribute is set, Atlantis places the paragraph at the top of a new page.

If the Special Symbols mode is on, and a particular paragraph has this attribute set, the image might be displayed in the left margin opposite the first line of this paragraph.

Widow / Orphan Control

If this attribute is set, Atlantis attempts to keep a single line at the beginning or end of the paragraph from being left on a page by itself.