Add a tab character to a number format

Question

I would like to add a tab character to a number format.

For example, I would like my number to format to look like the following, where there is a tab character between the number "[1]" and the open bracket "[" as shown below 

Req[1]     [

or

Req[1]<tab>[

Answer 1

It doesn't appear to be possible using the list numbers. You can type a TAB character (CTRL+TAB) in the dialog, but it is not translated to the result - see illustration:

You can do it with SEQ fields e.g.

{ SEQ Num # "'['#']    ['" }

but SEQ fields don't update automatically if you change the order. You must force an update (CTRL+A, F9 or with a macro such as the example at http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm).

Answer 2

You can add an extra tab stop to the paragraph style that you use with the number format and then just type <Tab> followed by [. After you have added this construct once, you can select it and create an AutoText entry for easy insertion in the future. The AutoText entry must include the whole paragraph, up to and including the paragraph mark, for number format and tab character to be inserted.

Answer 3

Hmmmm. That would work, but it would take fewer key presses to include the tab in the number definition without the bracket and just type the [ bracket, than to call up the autotext (which is essentially the downside of my suggestion also) :(.

Answer 4

You are quite right: based on the OP's description, an extra tab character shouldn't be needed. The one from the list format should suffice.

No matter if you use auto numbering or a SEQ field, using an AutoText entry will make the insertion easier, though.

Answer 5

That's true also, but I suspect we have both been over-thinking this. The fact remains that the extra formatting cannot be included in the number format definition, so simply typing [ is far simpler than calling an autotext entry. :)