Submitted by jan_rifkinson on 2009/04/22 19:50
In item I have not been able to change background color for selected item within an item.
If this is not possible, it would be helpful.
 
Thank you.
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA

Comments

Tools > options > Program > Grid > Selected items back color

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/23 07:50

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Sorry, I had typo in my post.  To clarify:
 
In an item I have the words
This is a test
 
and
I want to highlight, i.e. change color background for word 'test'
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/23 11:07

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

This is a Windows setting. You can choose whatever you want
 
 

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/23 11:14

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Respectfully, I don't see how this is possible as IQ changes background for entire item -- not selected text in edit mode.  If you can illustrate or give me precise steps to accomplish my task, I'd be appreciative.
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/23 12:04

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

OK, let's summarize:
 
You want :
  1. to change the background color of some text in an item (this color is to remain)?, or
  2. Change the background color of text you select in an item (as you select text) ?
I explained #2 as I thought that this is what you wanted.
 
If you want #1, this is well explained in the book page: Embedded Formatting:
 
this can be achieved using HTML codes. In the sample database, check in the Welcome grid, you'll find all formatting information
 
Specifically, item 1.2.3.1.2.3: <bgcolor=00FF00>backcolor</bgcolor> gives: backcolor
 
If this seems cumbersome, I agree, but IQ is more concerned about information management, than with the nice display of this information.

jan_rifkinson

2009/04/23 12:36

In reply to by Pierre_Admin

Again, respectfully, if IQ is more concerned about info mgmnt, then I submit anything to make managing than info easier is fair game. 
 
Every day I clip articles from the internet & other places or take notes in the outline. If I conduct a search w a common theme & end up w 52 items, I may want to highlight a word here or there to focus my attention on the 2nd graph of a particular article, etc. That may  be the critical info I want to use as a reference in an article. Could I have just clipped that specific choice? Sure but it is taken out of context & I am very much about presenting info IN context as there is already enough info in this world presented OUT of context. Putting that philosophy aside, I don't think your comment about making a nice display is on target at all especially when the function I am asking about is available in many MS - compatible products as part of the context menu. 
 
Yes, the current set up for adding background color to selected text is terribly cumbersome & un-necessarily so IMO.  It should function like underline, bold, strikeout, etc AFAIC.  If you "explained" item 1. to me then Ii didn't get & still don't, however, I was talking about item 2. which is explained in the RTF pages which I've now read..... again.
 
Clearly, IQ is your baby & it is a BIG & complex baby but all the more reason IMO to simplify it's use thru a clean GUI, instinctive keyboard shortcuts, error msgs, tips, etc.  You are very responsive to your user base and always helpful but I've had this discussion before with developers who --- when I suggest a calendar is a key component of any data mgnmnt tool -- will say this is pure data managment, not A PIM & dismiss the idea far too easily. (I know you are working on a calendar which I hope we will see soon)  Frankly, I think this kind of thinking is short sighted because people have to organize their data around their DAY / TIME -- that means calendar function to me. Reminders / alarms, pop ups are not simply bells & whistles but easy to use & useful tools in helping people use the data they have gathered and manipulated.
 
So while on the surface a request like mine may be viewed as prettying up the display, nothing is further from the truth AFAIC.
 
Clearly it is not a priority but I wanted to respond to your comment on this issue which I thought was a little off handed.
 
--
Jan Rifkinson
Ridgefield CT USA
HP Blackbird Vista Ultimate SP-1

Pierre_Admin

2009/04/23 12:57

In reply to by jan_rifkinson

Thanks for you comments,
 
Two points on this issue:
  1. A WYSIWYG editor for the grid section is possible and will eventually be done
  2. The HTML pane is already WYSIWYG, including easy back color highlighting.
FYI, an very successful application, Evernote, when to release version 2.0 without ever offering a backcolor feature in its rich text editor. IQ has it already.
 
More generally, I don't know of any other 2-pane outliner with a first pane with as rich text formatting as IQ (myInfo, UR, etc). Most rich text should go in the HTML pane as are your clipped articles from the web.
 
And I agree with you, the UI does need clean up !
 
Have a great day!