Common Tasks

In this section you will find most of the common tasks used in the editor. The instruction how to use them will guide you step by step so your word processing will be easier.

You can access all the common tasks specification from this page as well as from the main page

• Writing
• Text Formatting
• Templates
• Creating Lists
• Links, E-Mails and Anchors
• Inserting Images
• Tables
• Cut, Copy and Paste

Writing

Internet (the Web) vs Paper

Writing in the editor is as simple as writing on desktop text editors, like Microsoft Word, or Open Office. There is an important difference to be considered though.

Desktop word processors are used to create printed (or printed like) content, limited in physical pages. the editor instead, is usually used to create text to be published on Internet, and to be read by using web browsers. This is an important thing to consider and keep in mind.

The most important thing to consider are:

• On Internet, pages have no physical limits. They can grow infinitely.
• The same content can look different on different computers, or different web browsers. Text lines can contain more or less words, depending on the computer features and configurations.
• User with visual or motorial disabilities may want to read your texts. Keep it in mind, and look on ways to better satisfy their particular needs.
• Web sites and their pages have severe technical limits. They are created by programmers, using different "computer languages". Those "languages" are powerful on many aspects, but have also limits that are difficult to understand by people used to the flexibility of desktop text processors. With time, you will get used to those limits, and will be able to properly produce quality text that works for the Internet. Don't complain that much with your web developer if things don't work as you would have expected. Try to understand the technical restrictions. You will have an enjoyable writing experience in this way.

The ENTER key

The first thing you should know about editing the text is the usage of the keyboard key ENTER or in some computers called RETURN. If you press the key the editor will create a new paragraph. You can also use ENTER with a combination with the SHIFT key. Pressing the SHIFT+ENTER keys simultaneously will just break the line in the same paragraph. However you must notice that the usage of the key is predefined by the programs developer so it could have different options. If you are not sure how the ENTER key action is defined contact your system administrator to resolve the problem.

The BACKSPACE key

As you know the BACKSPACE key is used for deleting mistakes, whole words or whole text. To make it easier their you can use a combination of CTRL and BACKSPACE keys. If you press them at the same time you will erase the whole word which was before the cursor.

Keyboard Keystrokes (shotcuts)

Many functions in the editor have their keyboard keystrokes. They make the work with the editor faster and easier. Below you will find an alphabetical list with all of the keyboard shortcuts:

• CTRL+A highlights the whole editing area
• CTRL+B changes your font to bold.
• CTRL+C copies the highlighted area to the clipboard.
• CTRL+I changes your font to italic.
• CTRL+L opens the Link window.
• CTRL+SHIFT+S saves the document.
• CTRL+U changes your font to underlined.
• CTRL+V or SHIFT+INSERT pastes the data from the clipboard
• CTRL+X or SHIFT+DELETE cuts the highlighted area.
• CTRL+Y or CTRL+SHITF+Z starts the redo function.
• CTRL+Z starts the undo function.
• CTRL+ALT+ENTER fits the editor in the browsers window.

Text Formatting

Text formatting determines how your text will look in your document. Making your text look better is very easy using the the editor. We will start the guide through the text formatting with bold, italic, underlined fonts.

Bold, Italic, Underlined and Strike-through

You may also arrange the way you font looks like by choosing whether the font should be bold, italic, underlined or stroked through.

• To make your font bold press the on the toolbar. 
• If you want it to be italic press theon the toolbar .
• For underlined press the on the toolbar.
• And finally to strike a line through the text press  on the toolbar.

Example:

If you choose any of this options you will learn that the button on the toolbar will highlight. If you want to disable the function press its button again. Of course you can mix these options as much as you want.

Example:

Notice that if you don't switch the underline option off the underline will go between your blanks.

Example:

The same thing happens when you use the strike through function.

Styles

It is quite easy to make your text looking ugly or difficult to read by making lots of different formatting on it. Styles help on making all formatting uniform in the text. Each style option contains a predefined combination of formatting features, which have been defined by the web site developer. Be sure you have been instructed on how to properly use each of the available styles.

Styles are also a way to combine all the formatting function described in this page. They give you fast access to the common used text formats. For example: you don't have to change the font, its color, its background, its size. You simply peak a style you prefer from the Style menu and start typing.

It is the best way to change the text look.

Example:

Text Alignment

A paragraph of text can have its lines aligned to either of the sides of the document, as well as centering on it. You may also force the lines to take the entire space available in the document (like aligning to both sides at the same time).

To align your text at the left side of the editing area, press the button on the toolbar.

Example:

If you want instead to have the text aligned at the right side of the editing area, just press the button on the toolbar.

Example:

In order to align your text at the center of the document, press the on your toolbar.

Example:

The last option is the block alignment. If you want to activate it press on the toolbar. This function is much similar to the left alignment. You also begin typing from the left side of the screen. The difference instead can be noted when writing several lines of text. Each one will have the same length even though they don't have to have the same amount of words or letters. The lines will just expand and the text will be equally long so that the lines will end in the same place.

Example:

Paragraph (Block) Format

Another very important function which you will probably use in your text is the Format menu in the toolbar:

A format is used for organizing your text and to distinguish different parts of your text. For example if you want to start a new chapter or to put different categories and subcategories you use the format menu and choose different headings.

Example:

You can see headings also in this guide. Fonts, Layout and format, Styles are all headings used to divide this document into categories.

Fonts

Fonts are kinds of style of writing. They determine how the letters of your text look like. The most common used fonts are "Times New Roman" and "Arial". They are used in most documents created in the world. You may say that they are very official fonts used in formal documents. If you wish to use a different font you are of course more than welcome to do so. To choose a font you want to type in access the font menu in your toolbar and click on the font you decided to use.

Example:

We encourage you to avoid overusing this feature. You can easaly produce a document that looks bad or difficult to read. Give preference to the Styles menu instead, which have been preciselly designed by your web side developer.

Text Size

To change you font size open the "Size" menu in the toolbar. There you will find a range of sizes which were defined by your web site developer. To change the size of your font just choose one of the options.

Example:

As you can see you can have a very big variety of sizes.

Colors

The other option to make your text look different is changing the text color or its background color.

If you want to change your text color press the text color button . Several colors will appear in a menu. If you are not satisfied with the colors available in that panel click "More colors...".

To choose the color you want to use, just click on it.

Example:

You may also change the text background color using the button. Again you will find a range of colors the same ones as in the text color. Click on the color you want to choose.

Example:

You may also mix the colors of your text and the background.

Subscript and Superscript

Subscript and superscript are usually used for mathematical needs. Subscript is a way to put an index to a letter or to a number. The subscript has a smaller font than the normal text. To activate subscript you must press the button on the toolbar.

Example:

As you can see you can use either a number in a subscript or a text.

The superscript work in the same way as the subscript but instead of placing the index in the bottom you place it in the top. This function is usually used in mathematical equations to write the "to the power of" function. You can access it from the toolbar using the button 

Example:

You can also mix these two functions:

Example:

Creating Lists

Creating a list is a very easy and intuitive issue. the editor offers two kinds of lists

Numbered Lists

Creating

To create and numbered list press on the toolbar. The text which was beside your cursor will automatically gain number one on the list.

Example:

If you want to set another number below just press ENTER and the next number will appear

Example:

You may also highlight the lines you want to be numbered and than press .

If you want to stop Numbered Listing just press the button again. The function will deactivate.

Properties

If you want to change the list properties press your right mouse button any place inside your list. A context menu will appear:

Choose Numbered list Properties.A popup window called "Umbered List Properties" will appear:

• Start: the number which you'll put in to this field will determine from which number your list will stat.
• Type: you may choose from several options regarding what type of listing you want to use, for example Large Roman Numerals.

Bulletted Lists

Creating

It works exactly like the Numbered List but instead of numbers you have dots. To activate/deactivate this function press.

Example:

Properties

If you want to change the list properties press you right mouse button any place inside your list. A context menu will appear:

Choose Bulleted List Properties. A popup window called "Bulleted List Properties" will appear:

• Type: you may select the type of the dots you use in your list.

Links, E-Mails and Anchors

Links and E-mails

To insert a link to an URL address, anchor or an e.mail press button on the toolbar. A popup window called "Link" will appear.

• Link Type: specifies the type of link you want to put in the document. You can choose from "URL", "Link to anchor in the text" or "E-mail". Depending on which option you will choose different options and bookmarks will appear in the window. We will start from the Link Type: URL.

URL

Link Info

If you chose Link Type: URL the same option as in the above picture will appear.

• Protocol: specifies the type of protocol you want to use for your link. You can choose from "http://", "https://","ftp://", "news://" or "<other>".
• URL: specifies the address you want your link to refer to.

Press "OK" and the link will appear in your document.

Target

The second bookmark of the window refers to "Target":

• Target: set's the target of your link. Specifies in what kind of a window a link will appear. You may choose from "<frame>", "New Window" ( _blank ), "Topmost Window" ( _top ), Same Window ( _self ), Parent Window ( _parent).
• Target Frame Name: in this window you will find the name of the option you have selected in "Target"

In "Target" you may also choose the <popup window> option. After clicking it you will find that the options in the bookmark have changed:

• Popup Window Name: specifies the name of your popup window.
• Popup Window Features: you can check or uncheck several option regarding to the appearance of the popup window. Some of the options are depending on which browser you're using.
• Width: specifies the width of the window the linked address will appear in.
• Height: specifies the width of the window the linked address will appear in.
• Left Position: sets the horizontal position of the window the linked address will appear in, starting from the left side of your screen.
• Top Position: sets the vertical position of the window the linked address will appear in, starting from the top of your screen.

Pressing "OK" will insert the link in your document.

Link to anchor in the text

If you chose Link Type: Link to anchor in the text new options will appear in the Link Info bookmark.

You may select the link to the anchor in two ways.

• By Anchor Name: selects the anchor by name you have previously specified in anchor properties.
• By Element Id: selects the anchor by Id.

Pressing "OK" will insert the link in your document.

E-mail

If you chose Link Type: E-mail new options will appear in the Link Info bookmark:

• E-mail Address: specifies the e-mail address to which you want the link to refer to.
• Message Subject: specifies the subject of the message which will be sent to the e-mail address.
• Message Body: specifies the text of the message which will be sent to the e-mail address.

Press "OK" to insert the link in your document.

Advanced options

Whatever Link Type you will choose one bookmark will remain the same. It is the last bookmark called "Advanced":

• Id: specifies the ID of the link.
• Language Direction: sets the language direction from left to right ( LTR ) or from right to left ( RTL ).
• Access Key: sets up an access key to the link.
• Name: specifies the link name.
• Language Code: defines the code of the language e.g. en, pt, pt
• Tab Index: defines the tab index.
• Advisory Title: specifies the description of the target object.
• Advisory Content Type: specifies the MIME type of the target object.
• Stylesheet Classes: specifies the name of the CSS class.

• Linked Resource Charset: specifies the charset of the target object.
• Style: defines the style

Press "OK" to insert the link.

Anchors

To insert an anchor in the text place your cursor before the text or section you want to the anchor to refer and press button on the toolbar. A popup window called "Anchor Properties" will appear:

• Anchor Name: specifies the anchor name. You will be referring to this name while linking to the anchor.

Press "OK" and the anchor will appear in your document.

Inserting Images

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Inserting Images in the editor is very simple. Just press the button on the toolbar. A popup window called "Image Properties" will appear. It includes three bookmarks:

Image Info

The first bookmark refers to the "Image Info"

• URL: defines the URL address of the image. You may also use the "Browse Sever" in order to browse the files.
• Alternative Text:puts the descriptions of the image if you want it to be different than the image name.
• Width: specifies image width.
• Height: specifies image height.

You may lock the image proportions by pressing or you can return to the original image size by pressing .

• Border: specifies the size of the border you want to place around the image.
• HSpace: defines the size of the  horizontal gap.
• VSpace: defines the size of the vertical gap.
• Align: specifies the alignment of the image. You can choose from: Left, Abs Bottom, Abs Middle, Baseline, Bottom, Middle, Right, Text Top or Top.

Pressing "OK" inserts the image with the specified properties.

Upload From Your Computer

Click the Browse Server button to loacte an image on your computer and upload it:

• Upload: specifies the location of the image file on your local hard drive. You may also use "browse" if you don't want to type the location manually.

Pressing "Send it to the Server" sends the image to the server.

Link

The second bookmarks regards to "Link":

• URL: defines the URL address of the image. You may also use the "Browse Sever" in order to browse the files.
• Target: defines the target of the image (for advanced users). You can choose from New Window ( _blank ), Topmost Window ( _top ), Same Window ( _self ) or Parent Window  (_parent ).

Advanced

This bookmark is only for advanced users:

• Id: specifies the ID of the image.
• Language Direction: sets the language direction from left to right ( LTR ) or from right to left ( RTL ).
• Language Code: specifies the language code e.g. en, pt, pl.
• Long Description URL: specifies the description of the page.
• Stylesheet Classes: specifies the name of the CSS class.
• Advisory Title: specifies the description of the target object.
• Style: specifies the style.

Tables

Creating a table

If you want to create a table in the editor you must press the "Insert/Edit Table" button on the toolbar.

After that a popup window called "Table Properties" will appear.

Working with the table

If you created your table you may change its properties. Point your mouse on the table press the right button and a context menu will appear.

In order to change the tables properties press "Table Properties" and a popup window will appear. It's the same windows that you used for creating the table.

If you want to delete you table simply press "Delete Table".

The other three options are Cell, Row and Column. If you point your mouse cursor on one of them a new context menu will appear.

Cell

• Insert Cell Before: inserts a new cell before the cell your cursor is currently in.
• Insert Cell After: inserts a new cell after the cell your cursor is currently in.
• Delete Cells: deletes the cell your cursor is in. You may also highlight more cells and than delete them.
• Merge Cells: merges cells you have highlighted into a one cell.
• Split Cell Horizontally: splits a cell in two.One cell is split in two colums.
• Split Cell Vertically:splits a cell in two.One cells is split in two rows.
• Cell properties: if you click the cell properties a new popup window called "Cell Properties" will appear:

• Width: sets the cell width in pixels or in percentage of the table width.
• Height: sets the height of the cell.
• Word Wrap: turns on/off word wrapping.
• Horizontal Alignment:determines the horizontal alignment of the text in your cell. It can be set to Left, Center or Right.
• Vertical Alignment: determines the vertical alignment of the text in your cell. It can be set to Top, Middle, Bottom or Baseline.
• Rows span: extends vertical rows.
• Columns span:extends cells on a horizontal row (left and right).
• Background color: sets the background color of your cell. You can either select a color or type it manually.
• Border Color: sets the color of your cells border. You can either select a color or type it manually.

Row

• Insert Row Before: inserts a new row before the row your cursor is currently in.
• Insert Row After: inserts a new row after the row your cursor is currently in.
• Delete Rows: deletes highlighted rows or the row your cursor is currently in.

Column

• Insert Column Before: inserts a column before the column your cursor is currently in.
• Insert Column After: inserts a column after the column your cursor is currently in.
• Delete Columns: deletes highlighted columns or the column your cursor is currently in.

Cut, Copy and Paste

Cut

To begin cutting the text you should firstly highlight the fragment you want to cut. After highlighting there are three methods to cut.

1. by pressing the button on the toolbar.
2. by pressing the right mouse button on the highlighted area. A context menu will appear. Choose cut.
3. by pressing the combination of CTRL+X keys.

Copy

You can copy a highlighted area in three ways.

1. by pressing the button on the toolbar.
2. by pressing the right mouse button on the highlighted area. A context menu will appear. Choose copy.
3. by pressing the combination of CTRL+C keys.

Paste

There are three options to paste into the text:

1. by pressing the combination of CTRL+V keys or pressing on the toolbar. This option will paste data from your clipboard. However there's a possibility that because of your security settings placed in your browser the editor will be enable to paste the data directly from your clipboard. If that happens a popup window will appear with instruction what to do next
   
   
    
2. by pressing . This option pastes a plain text which you should first paste inside the following box by using the combination of CTRL+V keys.
   
    
3. by pressing . This option pastes a text previously written in MS Word editor. By using this option you may paste the text from Word ignoring the Font Face definitions or removing Styles definitions.To paste the text just press CTRL+V key combination on your keyboard.
   

Templates

A template is a function will allow you to change the page layout and style and to organize your document better.In order to activate it press  button on the toolbar. A popup window called "Content Templates" will appear:

• Image and Title: one main image with a title and text that surround the image.
• Strange Template: a template that defines two columns, each one with title, and some text.
• Text and Table: a title with some text and a table.

If you chose a template double-click on it and it will appear in your document.

Example: