Width of Text

The width of text in PipeDream is controlled by columns. Each column has its own width and a right margin associated with it which determines the width of text formatted in that column. In the initial PipeDream document, the right margins are set so that text typed into any column will wrap onto the next line when it reaches the right-hand side of the document layout. You can change the width of any column. You can move the right margin for a group of columns in the document. You can also set the right margin independently for any column in the document.

To See Where the Right Margin is for a Column

Position the caret in the column. The column’s top border is shown in a different colour to let you know which column you are in.

The right margin for that column is shown by the down-arrow right margin marker in the top border. Initially, all columns wrap at the right-hand side of the document layout. You can see this by pressing the Tab key to move the caret from column to column. In each case, the right margin marker is at the right-hand side of the document layout.

To Move the Right Margin of a Group of Columns

  1. Position the caret in the first column of the group to be altered.
  2. Give the Move Margin Right command to move the right margin to the right or the Move Margin Left command to move the right margin to the left.
Menu Command Tool Key Cmd-sequence
Layout Move margin right LMR
Move margin left LML

All columns between the column containing the caret and the new right margin will now wrap at the new right margin marker position.

To Change the Right Margin of a Column

There are two ways to do this:

Dragging the right margin marker

  1. Position the pointer on the right margin marker. The pointer will change shape when the it is over the marker.
  2. Drag Select to move the right margin marker to the required position.

As the right margin marker moves, the column width is displayed in the mark block box.

Using the Set Right Margin command

  1. Position the caret in the column to be altered.
  2. Give the Set Right Margin command:
Menu Command Tool Key Cmd-sequence
Layout Set right margin H

Alternatively, you can alter the right margin of a different column by typing the column letter in the Specify column range input field of the dialogue box.

To Alter the Width of a Column

There are two ways to do this:

Dragging the column borders

  1. Move the pointer onto the border of the column. The shape of the pointer will change.
  2. Drag until the column has the width you require.

The column width is displayed in the mark block box as you drag the border.

Using the Set Column Width command

  1. Position the caret in the required column.
  2. Give the Set Column Width command.
Menu Command Tool Key Cmd-sequence
Layout Set column width W

When you click the Set button (or press Return↵), the column will be redisplayed with the new width.

Alternatively, you can alter the width of a specified column (i.e. not the one you are in) by typing in the column letter. You can specify a range of columns whose width you want to alter. If you type C E, for example, columns C, D and E will have the new width you specify. To specify a range of columns, you only need to type in the first and last columns. All columns between will be included in the range.

Note that if you change the width of a column to zero, the column is not displayed at all, although the data in it is not affected. This is useful if you want a column of intermediate calculations which you do not want to be displayed or printed.

Linked Columns

You can link several columns together so that they share the same right margin.

  1. Drag Select across the column borders of the columns you want to link.
  2. Give the Link Columns command.

This sets the right margin to be the end of the last linked column, so that the linked columns share the right margin of the rightmost column. The right margin marker changes colour to show that it cannot be changed in the normal manner. If you change the width of any of the linked columns, the right margin marker moves accordingly.

Auto Width

You can instruct PipeDream to set the width of each column in a block to that necessary for the widest entry in that column. Proceed as follows:

  1. Mark the block of columns.
  2. Give the Auto Width command:
Menu Command Tool Key Cmd-sequence
Layout Auto width LAW

Each column will be displayed with the width set to that necessary for the widest entry in that column. This command is particularly useful for spreadsheet work in which it is often the case that many columns are too wide. It is also helpful when you get % signs in cells to show that your columns are not wide enough for the contents to be displayed. All you have to do is mark the block then give the Auto Width command to ensure that each column is the correct width. Note that in carrying out the Auto Width command, PipeDream ignores text cells which have nothing to the right of them to ensure that headings can overlap other columns.

For information on See
PipeDream’s column structure Getting Started Guide