This dialog box sets the display parameters for Xclamation texts. Paragraphs specifications affect how words are displayed in a paragraph. This dialog box permits format specifications to be named. These specs will be applied in the Text editor.

Screen shot: Format dialog box

Left portion of the dialog box:

• The format list displays already defined specifications. When a specification is selected from the list, its characteristics appear on the right. Several elements may be selected from the list using the control key. Predefined specifications are stored in the configuration files.
   
• The text field located beneath the list allows modification of the selected format's name.
   
• The "Add format" button creates a new format specification. By default it will have the same characteristics as the selected specification, as well as the same name followed by a number.
   
• The "Delete format" button deletes a format specification. Formats used in the application or defined by the \LOCK command in the configuration files cannot be deleted.
   

The right portion of the dialog box:

• The "Indent" text field defines the size of the paragraph indentation at the beginning of the paragraph's first line. The value of this indentation is expressed in millimeter and must be set between -500(mm) and 500(mm).
   
• The "Left margin" text field defines the size of the left margin of the paragraph. The value of the left margin is expressed in millimeter and must be set between 0(mm) and 500(mm).
   
• The "Right margin" text field defines the size of the right margin of the paragraph. The value of the right margin is expressed in millimeter and must be set between 0(mm) and 500(mm).
   
• The "Relative Line Spacing" button selects the calculation method for paragraph line spacing. There are two modes of calculation: relative and absolute. If relative mode is engaged, the value of the "line spacing" text field corresponds to the distance separating the bottom of a text line from the top of the following line. If relative mode is not engaged, absolute mode is in place; here "line spacing" designates the distance between the bottom of one text line to the bottom of the following line.
   
• The "Interparagraph" text field defines the distance between paragraphs. This value represents the distance in typographic points separating the last line of a paragraph from the first line of the following paragraph. This value must be set between 0(pt) and 1000(pt).
   
• The "Interline" text field sets line spacing. The value is expressed in typographic points and must be set between 0(pt) and 1000(pt). The mode in which this value is displayed is determined by the "relative line spacing" button.
   
• The four "Alignment" icons choose the paragraph's alignment mode. Only one of the four icons can be selected at a time. These icons represent the following modes of alignment (from left to right): align left, center, align right, and justify.
   
• The "Word distribution" text field sets a value, expressed as a percentage, which determines distribution of empty space in a line of text. The expressed percentage indicates the proportion of empty space to be distributed between the words of text. The remaining percentage will be applied to the space between letters. The larger the percentage, the smaller the space between letters, and inversely the smaller the percentage, the more space between the letters-leaving less space between the words. This value must be set between 0(%) and 100(%).
   
• The "Min Ratio" text field sets the minimum percentage of space in a line of text which must be filled before passing to the following line. This ratio affects the ending of text lines: the smaller the percentage, the earlier the line can be cut, and inversely the nearer the percentage to 100%, the longer the line must be before ending. This value must be set between 1(%) and 100(%).
   
• The "Max Ratio" text field sets the maximum percentage of space in a text line which may be filled before passing to the following line. The larger this percentage, the more words fit per line by reducing the space between the letters and words. This value must be set between 100(%) and 1000(%).
   

Lower portion of the dialog box:

• "Ok" confirms all the actions carried out on the list of format specifications and closes the dialog box. Any texts using the modified formats will be updated automatically.
   
• "Cancel" cancels all commands and closes the box.