Paragraph Rules

If you've ever drawn a rule above a line of text, only to have the text reflow and leave the rule in the dust, you'll find Paragraph Rules an invaluable feature. With Paragraph Rules you can add a rule above and/or below the text and have that rule move with the paragraph when the text is edited. No more chasing after the text to reposition those lines.

Rules Above starts at the baseline and extends up. Using a positive offset shifts the line up relative to the baseline; a negative offset shifts the line down relative to the baseline.

Note

The amount of offset added to paragraph rules does not alter the paragraph spacing of the paragraph.

Rules Below starts at the baseline and extends down. Using a positive offset shifts the line down relative to the baseline; a negative offset shifts the line up relative to the baseline.

The techniques below involve shifting the rules relative to the baseline of the type, sometimes so much so that the terms above and below become meaningless.

Figure 14.1. Different types of paragraph rules.

Note

When working with paragraph rules, "baseline" refers to the baseline of the first line for a rule above and the baseline of the last line for a rule below. When working with a one-line paragraph (usually the case with paragraph rules) the two rules are positioned relative to the same baseline.

Figure 14.2.

Figure 14.3.

Figure 14.4.

Figure 14.5.

Figure 14.6.

Figure 14.7.

Figure 14.8.