[duxuser] Re: no style
- From: Dave Durber <dadurber@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 08:25:19 -0400
One of the biggest problems with importing formatted text files into
word processors, particularly windows-based word processing programs,
such as WordPerfect, Word and DBT, is how the file was saved to a text
file in the first-place, because you are given so many different
formatted text choices from which you can choose, when you are saving
any files from the default word processor format, to text format.
It would be wonderful if these types of programs had an import
facility that imported text files "as is" without trying to impose any
pre-conceived ideas as to how it thinks the file should be formatted
according to its own internal rules.
The old DOS-based word processor called Word Star had such a facility.
So, for example, if a text/ASCII file contained hard return codes,
hard page break codes and spaces which preserved the original layout
of the document when it was saved to text/ASCII format, Word Star
would not make any assumptions as to how it perceived the file should
be formatted according to its own set of rules if the file was
imported into its ASCII text format function.
In other words, if the exporting word processor, when the file was
being saved to ASCII format, placed a hard return at the end of each
line; placed a hard page break at the bottom of each page; placed
multiple spaces to indicate centered headings; placed multiple spaces
at the beginning of lines to indicate hanging indents in lists and
outlines, Word Star through is ASCII importer, preserved all of these
codes including all spaces so that you would have a true and accurate
layout of how the original file was formatted. You could then use
Word Star's internal formatting functions to produce an output file,
formatted to suit a particular purpose.
I think that this type of importer would be an excellent function for
DBT.
What about it! You guys at Duxbury?
On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 13:26:29 +0100, you wrote:
>Hi Terry,
>
>It sounds like your text file is not as plain Jane as you think, and that
>there may be things like Tabs in it which are confusing the importer.
>
>George.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:duxuser-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>On Behalf Of stravinsky
>Sent: 24 April 2004 02:23
>To: duxuser@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [duxuser] no style
>
>I often import from text files and fid that the style is automatically
>set for outline or poetry. How can I minimize this since I usually just
>want plane Jane (sorry if there are any Janes' out there I'm not
>refering to you) so no style. Any advice welcome, as it will be when I
>start learning the power of styles.
>
>Terry Chaney
>
>
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