Chapter 6
(continued)
The askSam Word Processor
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Formatting with Styles
A Style is a set of formats that you can apply to text to quickly change its appearance. When you apply a Style, you apply a whole group of formats in one simple task. For example, you may want to format a title to make it stand out. Instead of taking three separate steps to format your title as 18 pt, Arial, and center-aligned, you can achieve the same result in one step by applying a Title Style.
When you format using Styles, it is easy to change the formatting throughout an entire database by simply changing the Style. Whatever formatting changes you make to a Style are reflected in all the Documents that contain text formatted with this Style. For this reason we recommend setting up Entry Forms using Styles for fields and data. (Note: The Entry Form Wizard automatically sets up fields and data using Styles).
When you create a new file in askSam, the file is based on the Normal template, and if you start typing text, the text uses the Normal Style. This means that when you start typing, askSam uses the font, font size, line spacing, text alignment, and other formats currently defined for the Normal Style. The Normal Style is the base Style for the Normal template, meaning that it's a building block for other Styles in the template.
There are a number of other Styles besides Normal. These are listed in the Style list on the Formatting toolbar. You can modify, create, delete, and preview Styles by choosing FORMAT -> STYLE.
A Paragraph Style controls all aspects of a paragraph's appearance, such as text alignment, tab stops, and line spacing, and can include character formatting. If you want a paragraph to have a particular combination of attributes that aren't in an existing style (for example, a bold, italic, center-aligned heading in the Arial Narrow font), you can create a new Paragraph Style.
A Character Style affects selected text within a paragraph, such as the font and size of text, and bold and italic formats. Characters within a paragraph can have their own Style even if a Paragraph Style is applied to the paragraph as a whole. If you want to give certain types of words or phrases the same kind of formatting, and the formatting isn't in an existing Style, you can create a new Character Style.
1. Select the text you want to format with a Style.
To apply a Paragraph Style, click the paragraph or select the group of paragraphs you want to change.
To apply a character style, click the word or select the words you want to change.
2. Choose FORMAT -> STYLE and the Style Dialog Box will appear:
3. Choose the Style you want to apply.
A paragraph mark appears to the left of each Paragraph Style. A bold, underlined letter "a" appears to the left of Character Styles.
4. Choose the Apply button.
NOTE: To quickly apply a Style, select a Paragraph or Character Style in the Style pull-down menu on the Formatting toolbar. You can select the Style Pull-Down menu by clicking on it with the mouse, or press CTRL+SHIFT+S.
1. Choose FORMAT -> STYLE.
2. Choose the NEW button.
The New Style Dialog Box will appear.
Create your new Style by setting the following options:
OPTION DESCRIPTION
Name Enter a name for the Style
Style Select whether you want a Paragraph Style or a Character Style.
Based On Base your Style on the formatting used in an existing Style.
Style for following Paragraph Sets the Style that will be used for the following paragraph. This option is useful when you define a style for a title or heading. You can set this option to switch to a body style in the paragraph following the heading or title.
3. Set the formats for your new Style by choosing the Font button, the Paragraph button, or the Tabs button.
NOTE: The Paragraph button and Tabs button are only available for Paragraph Styles.
4. Choose OK after you've set the formats.
You return to the Style Dialog Box. The new Style will be displayed in the Styles list.
NOTE: When you create a new Style, the Style is available for all Documents in the current askSam file.
1. Choose FORMAT -> STYLE.
2. Choose the Style you wish to modify and choose the MODIFY button.
The Modify Style Dialog Box will appear.
Modify the Style by setting the following options:
OPTION DESCRIPTION
Based On Base the Style on another existing Style.
Style for following Paragraph Sets the Style that will be used for the following paragraph. This option is useful when you define a style for a title or heading. You can set this option to switch to a body style in the paragraph following the heading or title.
Font button Sets font, font size, and color for the Style.
Paragraph button Sets the alignment, indents, and spacing for the Style (only available for Paragraph Styles).
Tabs button Sets the tab settings for the Style (only available for Paragraph Styles).
3. Choose OK after you've made your modifications.
You return to the Style Dialog Box. The modifications you made to the Style will be reflected in any text where the Style was applied in each of the Documents in your askSam file.
1. Choose FORMAT -> STYLE. The Style Dialog Box will appear.
2. Choose the Style you want to delete.
3. Choose the Delete button.
NOTE: There are certain Styles that askSam requires. These Styles cannot be deleted. See below for details.
There are certain Styles that askSam requires. These Styles cannot be deleted. Not all of these Styles will be present on all of your askSam files.
STYLE NAME USED FOR…
Normal The default Style used when you enter text.
AS 3 File Font Used when converting an askSam file from a previous version.
Default Paragraph Font Clears formats from a selected text and sets the text back to the paragraph default font.
Field Use this Style to format field names in your Entry Forms. This Style is only present when you create an Entry Form using the Entry Form Wizard.
Field Data Default The default Style for fielded data in an Entry Form. This Style is only present when you create an Entry Form using the Entry Form Wizard.
Field Data Primary Use this Style to format the primary data in Entry Forms (primary data is a field or fields you like to emphasize). This Style is only present when you create an Entry Form using the Entry Form Wizard.
Field Data Secondary Use this Style to format secondary data in Entry Forms (secondary data is a field or fields that you would like to emphasize). This Style is only present when you create an Entry Form using the Entry Form Wizard.
Hypertext Link Defines the format for Hypertext links.
Search Results Defines the format for the text in the Search Results window.
Pagination - Breaking a Document into Pages
askSam can set page breaks automatically, or you can manually define page breaks.
1. Choose TOOLS -> OPTIONS and turn on Background Repagination.
askSam goes through your Document and divides it into pages. Page Breaks are represented in your Document by a dotted line across the screen.
This is a global setting. If automatic pagination is turned on, askSam will automatically paginate any Document you display.
If you wish to change the placement of an automatic Page Break, insert a Manual Page Break before the automatic Page Break. The rest of the Document will automatically repaginate.
1. Position the cursor in the line where you want the Page Break to occur.
2. Choose FORMAT -> PAGE BREAK.
A dotted and dashed line will appear in the Document to show where the Page Break has been inserted.
1. Position the cursor in the line containing the Page Break
2. Choose FORMAT -> PAGE BREAK.
The line representing the Page Break will be removed.
NOTE:
1. Automatic Page Breaks can only be changed by inserting manual Page Breaks.
2. askSam calculates Page Breaks based on the size of the paper and the size of the fonts and graphics.
Using Headers & Footers
Headers and footers are typically used in printed documents. You can create headers and footers that include text or graphics for example, page numbers, the date, a company logo, the Document's title or file name, that are usually printed at the top or bottom of each page in a Document. A header is printed in the top margin; a footer is printed in the bottom margin.
1. VIEW -> PAGE HEADER or the VIEW -> PAGE FOOTER.
The Header or Footer window will open in your Document.
2. Enter text or graphics in the Header or Footer window. You can also insert any of the following commands:
COMMAND
HEADER / FOOTER FUNCTION
EDIT -> INSERT -> Inserts the current date in the header/footer. You can also insert this
DATE HOTFIELD command by entering ^D.
EDIT -> INSERT -> Inserts the current time in the header/footer. You can also insert this
TIME HOTFIELD command by entering ^T.
EDIT -> INSERT -> Inserts the weekday in the header/footer. You can also insert this
WEEKDAY HOTFIELD command by entering ^W.
EDIT -> INSERT -> Inserts the page number.
PAGE NUMBER
EDIT INSERT -> Inserts Total Number of Pages in your Document.
NUMBER OF PAGES
EDIT -> INSERT -> Inserts the name of your askSam File. You can also insert this FILE
NAME HOTFIELD command by entering ^f.
EDIT -> INSERT -> FILE + Inserts the name and path of your askSam File. You can also insert this
PATH HOTFIELD command by entering ^F.
3. To close the Header or Footer window, choose VIEW -> PAGE HEADER or VIEW -> PAGE
FOOTER.
NOTE: Headers and Footers are output at the beginning and end of the text printed on your page. To leave space between a Header and the first text on your page, insert a blank line (or lines) at the end of your Header. To leave space between a Footer and the last text on your page, precede the text in your Footer with a blank line (or lines). To adjust the distance from the edge of the page to your Header or Footer change the Top and Bottom Margins.
The Zoom Functions
You can use the Zoom functions to enlarge or reduce the Document on your screen.
Choose VIEW -> ZOOM to access the Zoom Dialog Box.
The Zoom Dialog Box contains various levels of magnification and also allows you to enter a customized magnification level.
To return the screen to its original size choose a magnification level of 100%.
Publishing askSam Documents on the Internet
The information in your askSam files can be published on the Internet using the askSam Web Publisher. The Web Publisher lets users access your askSam databases via the Internet. Users can search and browse through the information. See our Web site http://www.askSam.com or contact our sales department (info@askSam.com or 850-584-6590) for details.
askSam also lets you export Documents in HTML format. HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the format used in documents on the Internet (World Wide Web). Home pages, product brochures, a variety of publications, and other information are available in HTML format. askSam gives you the ability to create documents and export them in HTML format.
There are no special commands necessary in order to format your Documents for the Internet. Simply enter the information into askSam. When you export the Document or use the Web Publisher, askSam automatically generates the HTML code necessary to display the Document on the Internet.
In HTML Documents, the Horizontal Ruler inserts a line in the Document. askSam's Word Processor allows you to insert a Horizontal Ruler:
1. Position your cursor in the line where you want to insert the Horizontal Ruler.
2. Choose FORMAT -> HTML HORIZONTAL RULER.
A black line will be inserted on the screen. When the Document is export to HTML or viewed in the askSam Web Publisher, this line will be displayed as a Horizontal Ruler.
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