Pages on iPad: Tab-aligned text shifts when printing

After preparing a document using Pages on an iPad (latest iOS), I attempted to print it. Regardless of the method used to initiate the printing process, the document is changed by Pages before the printing command is completed.


At the bottom of the document are signature lines, one on the left of the page and the other on the right side. Under each line are names and addresses. If you seen legal documents, you can visualize what I'm describing here.


After initiating the "print" command, the right side signature line, names and addresses are moved by the software to the left side. Why does the software change the formatting that I've done and must use? BY THE WAY, I created the right side text not by imposing text boxes or anything complicated such as that but rather just by tabbing over the right side to type what I wanted there.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 18

Posted on Dec 30, 2025 11:04 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 30, 2025 12:03 PM

When I have seen this occur in the past is where the tab key has been used multiple times to force text across the page using default tab spacing (every 0.5 inches). Instead, the proper method of using tabs is to use a single tab character in the content and then manually set a tab stop on the ruler at the specific position needed on the page. See Set tab stops in Pages on iPad - Apple Support for information about setting the location of a tab stop at a specific ruler position instead of using the default spacing.


When multiple tab characters are used to force text across the page using tab default spacing, even the most minor of font differences can cause printable characters to reach the next default tab position and jump up over to the next default position, thereby forcing everything to shift. The correct use of tabs in a document involves using the ruler and manually adding tab stops where necessary. If you find yourself hitting the tab key over and over to achieve what you want, then you are using tabs incorrectly. Lastly, make sure that there is at least some room to spare between the last character on the line and the right margin. Allow that final character to get too close to the margin can cause it to jump to the next line during printing. Give that right-most text a little room to breathe.




2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 30, 2025 12:03 PM in response to JayMiller3

When I have seen this occur in the past is where the tab key has been used multiple times to force text across the page using default tab spacing (every 0.5 inches). Instead, the proper method of using tabs is to use a single tab character in the content and then manually set a tab stop on the ruler at the specific position needed on the page. See Set tab stops in Pages on iPad - Apple Support for information about setting the location of a tab stop at a specific ruler position instead of using the default spacing.


When multiple tab characters are used to force text across the page using tab default spacing, even the most minor of font differences can cause printable characters to reach the next default tab position and jump up over to the next default position, thereby forcing everything to shift. The correct use of tabs in a document involves using the ruler and manually adding tab stops where necessary. If you find yourself hitting the tab key over and over to achieve what you want, then you are using tabs incorrectly. Lastly, make sure that there is at least some room to spare between the last character on the line and the right margin. Allow that final character to get too close to the margin can cause it to jump to the next line during printing. Give that right-most text a little room to breathe.




Pages on iPad: Tab-aligned text shifts when printing

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