Editing objects, layout parts, and the layout background > Formatting objects, layout parts, and the layout background > Formatting panel controls
 
Formatting panel controls
You can change the appearance of tab controls and slide controls and objects on panels. In addition, you can format:
display states for individual tab panels (see Specifying the display state for an object)
components of slide controls (the slide control area, slide panels, and the dots)
To format a panel control:
1. In Layout mode:
To format a display state for a tab panel: In the Inspector, choose from the object state list (near the top of the Appearance Appearance tab).
To format a component of a slide control: In the Inspector, choose Slide Control, Slide Control: Panels, or Slide Control: Dots from the object type list (near the top of the Appearance Appearance tab).
2. Do one or more of the following.
 
To
Do this
Change the fill of the front-most tab, the area of a slide control below the slide panels, or objects on a tab panel or slide panel
Tip  To apply the same fill to all tabs on a tab control, drag the arrow pointer to make a selection box that surrounds the tab control, then apply a fill.
Change the style and color of the border around a panel control
Select the tab control or slide control, then:
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, click the Appearance Appearance tab, then choose Line options in the Graphic area.
Or, choose Line options in the formatting bar. If you don’t see the formatting bar, click Formatting Formatting bar button in the layout bar.
Change the shape of the corners of a tab control or slide control
Select the tab control or slide control, click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click the Appearance Appearance tab. In the Graphic area, for Corner radius, choose each corner that you want to have a rounded appearance and specify a value in points. The larger the value, the more a corner is rounded.
Place all tabs on tab panels to the far left, center, or far right, or spread them across the tab panels
Double-click the tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose from Tab Justification.
Change the format of a tab panel’s name
Select a tab control, then:
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, click the Appearance Appearance tab, and choose options in the Text area.
Or, use the text options in the formatting bar. If you don’t see the formatting bar, click Formatting Formatting bar button in the layout bar.
Text options for a tab panel’s name apply to all panels. See Formatting text.
Change the width of all tabs in a tab control
Double-click the tab control. In the Tab Control Setup dialog box, choose from Tab Width.
For Label Width + Margin of, Minimum of, or Fixed Width of, choose Inches, Centimeters, or Points, then enter a value.
Change the fill or the color and style of the border around slide control dots
Select the slide control and click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar. Click the Appearance Appearance tab, then choose Slide Control: Dots in the object type list (near the top of the tab). In the Graphic area, choose a fill and choose Line options. Or, choose Line options in the formatting bar. If you don’t see the formatting bar, click Formatting Formatting bar button in the layout bar.
Add outer shadows to a tab control or slide control
Select the tab control or slide control, click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click the Appearance Appearance tab. In the Advanced Graphic area, select Outer Shadow. Click Edit button to change shadow effects.
Add inner shadows to slide panels
Click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, click the Appearance Appearance tab, then choose Slide Control: Panel in the object type list (near the top of the tab). In the Advanced Graphic area, select Inner Shadow. Click Edit button to change shadow effects.
Adjust the padding of a tab control or slide control to change its dimensions
Select the tab control or slide control, click Inspector Inspector button in the layout bar, then click the Appearance Appearance tab. In the Advanced Graphic area, for Padding, specify values.
Notes 
You can’t change the fill or border of individual slide panels.
You can’t apply outer shadows to slide panels or inner shadows to tab controls or slide control dots.
Related topics 
Formatting text
Arranging objects
Showing text or field boundaries
Adding shadows and padding to layout objects