---
name: "XmTabList"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "openmotif"
version: "2.3.8-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/XmTabList"
---

# XmTabList(3)

Data type for a tab list

## NAME

**XmTabList** — Data type for a tab list

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <Xm/Xm.h>
XmTabList
```

## DESCRIPTION

**XmTabList** is the data type for a tab list. A tab list consists of tab stop list entries (**XmTab**s). Whenever a tab component is encountered while an **XmString** is being rendered, the origin of the next X draw depends on the next **XmTab**. If a tab stop would cause text to overlap, the x position for the segment is reset to follow immediately after the end of the previous segment.

Tab lists are specified in resource files with the following syntax:

```
resource_spec: tab WHITESPACE [, WHITESPACE tab ]*
```

The resource value string consists of one or more tabs separated by commas. Each *tab* identifies the value of the tab, the unit type, and whether the offset is relative or absolute. For example:

```
tab := float [ WHITESPACE units ]
float := [ sign ] [[ DIGIT]*. ]DIGIT+
sign := +
```

where the presence or absence of *sign* indicates, respectively, a relative offset or an absolute offset. Note that negative tab values are not allowed. *units* indicates the unitType to use as described in the **XmConvertUnits** reference page.

For example, the following specifies a tab list consisting of a one inch absolute tab followed by a one inch relative tab:

```
*tabList: 1in, +1in
```

For resources of type, dimension, or position, you can specify units as described in the **XmNunitType** resource of the **XmGadget**, **XmManager**, or **XmPrimitive** reference page.

## RELATED

Refer to the *Motif Programmer's Guide* for more information about tabs and tab lists. [**XmTabListCopy**(3)](/XmTabListCopy/3.md), [**XmTabListFree**(3)](/XmTabListFree/3.md), [**XmTabListGetTab**(3)](/XmTabListGetTab/3.md), [**XmTabListInsertTabs**(3)](/XmTabListInsertTabs/3.md), [**XmTabListRemoveTabs**(3)](/XmTabListRemoveTabs/3.md), [**XmTabListReplacePositions**(3)](/XmTabListReplacePositions/3.md), and [**XmTabListTabCount**(3)](/XmTabListTabCount/3.md).