Hello Quark Express experts,

My question
===========

In Quark Express, how can I format multiple digit numbers using a
variable width font such that all digits use up the same amount of
horizontal space (fixed width)?

Further details
===============

I am using a variable width font (e.g. Corporate S) for a lengthy
document. The document also contains a table with several columns
(each right-aligned) with numbers, for which I must use the same
variable width font as in the main document. Example for the numbers I
am using:

  40,092,850
  41,111,111
  40,965,830

With the variable width font I am using, the second number 41,111,111
obviously takes up much less space than 40,965,830. As a result, my
columns filled with dozens of right-aligned numbers look "messy". In
normal PC Word & Excel all numbers seem to print just as desired, with
each digit taking up the same width, only in Quark Express it doesn't
seem to work

My aim is to have all the decimal points aligned and the individual
digits placed vertically in a neat layout (i.e. as if using a fixed
width font, despite using a variable width font).

I do want to retain the same look of each digit, i.e. I do not want to
stretch the digit itself, I only want to adjust the vertical
positioning of the digits such that the digits are aligned evenly,
with each digit (and the decimal point as well) using up the same
horizontal space.

Since these numbers will have to be updated regularly, I am looking
for an easy-to-use formatting function that will allow me to achieve
this (without having to evenly space out the numbers manually for each
digit in each number).

Using a fixed width font is not an option for me at this stage (would
like to have only one font and retain the variable width font look for
the remainder of the document).

Answers that will be satisfactory
=================================

I am looking for an answer that helps me solve my problem within Quark
Express with a few mouse clicks for a whole column filled with
numbers. If you know of plug-ins or other extensions that will allow
me to solve the problem, this would be a satisfactory answer as well.
 
Replies that explain that it is not possible (and why not) would not
be a satisfactory answer. Similarly, replies that come up with manual
formatting or other impractical approaches will not be considered
satisfactory answers.

Questions
=========

If you have any questions on this, please post a follow-up here.

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Clarification of Question by gerhardmiller-ga on 15 Apr 2005 09:07 PDT

I've meanwhile found a solution to this on my own. The best seems to
be to create a new font with a font editor that is an exact copy of
the original font, but with the digits modified to a fixed width. Then
use that copy of the font for the pages containing numbers.

-Gerhard