I don't want the Text Editor Window!

[Anonymous]

Recently our office switched to AC9.
The first thing that stunned me was the new way the Text Tool worked -the text I wanted to type was entered in a Text Editor Window!?!

Dear Graphisoft Development Team, typing text in a separate window within a CAD application is ARCHAIC, OUT-OF-DATE and CLUMSY! This is the way AutoCAD handles text! And even it gives a choice between typing in a text editing window or directrly in the drawing field!

Typing directly in the drawing field was one of the key features that defined AC as a modern CAD application. This feature was characteristic for advanced design and text editing applications like Corel Draw or Photoshop or Illustrator! This was the feature I used to point out to AutoCAD users when I convinced them AC was the better application! And it really impressed them!

I want the old way of typing BACK!
I can go on without Tabs and other formatting tricks because I am an Architect and I spend most of the time drawing , not writing fiction with Paragraphs and Chapters!

I really hope that the other tools are not spoiled in this way!

[Anonymous]

I have to disagree. I am glad we finally have tabs and formatting controls to use, and no longer have to resort to placeing multiple blocks of text to achieve the look that is desired. I would however like to see the text box be opened with a quickey combination, so that you could edit the text "from afar".

[Anonymous]

I agree completely with Millard in terms of the new functionality of the text tool. One thing that might make it feel a little more like it used to be would be to Options/Work Environment.../User Preference Schemes/Dialog Boxes & Palettes. Near the bottom of that screen you can set the Position of the Text Formatting Palette to "Jump to preferred position"

And try to think of all the new functionality does for you. While you may be an architect who spends most of his time drawing, the annotation of those drawings can hardly be considered fiction and it plays an important role in the goal of your drawing set; which is to provide an acurate description of your intent. Being able to format the notes in a way that makes them more readable is a good thing. Being able to paste in notes and retain the original formatting is even better.

Woody

[Karl Ottenstein]

Millard wrote:
I have to disagree. I am glad we finally have tabs and formatting controls to use, and no longer have to resort to placeing multiple blocks of text to achieve the look that is desired. I would however like to see the text box be opened with a quickey combination, so that you could edit the text "from afar".

I, too, find the new functionality a huge improvement and am quite happy with it (subject to seeing the missing tab types added - discussed in a separate thread).

You can open text 'from afar', unless I misunderstand what you want, Millard. With magnetic selection enabled, double click inside any text block except on a hotspot and the text editing box opens, with the tool switched temporarily to text. Works fine for me when the text block is so small that characters don't even display on the screen.

Karl

[Anonymous]

Karl wrote:
You can open text 'from afar', unless I misunderstand what you want, Millard. With magnetic selection enabled, double click inside any text block except on a hotspot and the text editing box opens, with the tool switched temporarily to text. Works fine for me when the text block is so small that characters don't even display on the screen. Karl

I guess my problem has been getting the cursor to get off of the text hotspot to be able to click inside of the text box. I'll have to try again tomorrow and see if I can improve my technique.

[Dwight]

Lads:

You NEVER need to fumble around trying to select a text box.

This might seem radical, or even a TIPOFTHEMONTH to some, but I have always edited text by SELECTING ALL THE TEXT BOXES AT ONCE. [Command-A with text tool active]

Once their selection dots are all nice and bright in a manly red [not sissy pink] it seems easier to select the text boxes for editing as they will open one at a time.

[Aussie John]

Yes I have done that Dwight but you are welcome to claim TOTM
Merry Xmas Dwight

[Anonymous]

I just double-click on the text.. anywhere on the text EXCEPT where the dots are/will be.. and once ready to edit another text box just double-click on the new one.. (No need to Ctrl/Cmd-Enter), automatically closes the edited one and starts editing again..

[Anonymous]

How does the "double click on text" work? What setting need to be toggled to take advantage of this function? When i Double click, nothing happens....

Rip Weaver, ASLA
Mac G-4 cube
Archicad 8.1/9.0

[Dwight]

WIth the selection arrow tool active.