I’m using Scrivener 1.96, been using Scrivener for about six months. It is great for writing but I’m guessing I’m not understanding bits.
I see that people were expecting a 3.0 back in 2017; is the Mac version on a different numbering scheme?
So I’m befuddled by a handful of things that the forum search doesn’t help with.
Multiple Windows.
Can’t open the project in multiple windows. I can split the screen, which sort-of works but my monitors are not the same orientation so it’s all wonky. Is there some trick to having the same project in two windows? Or should my “research” have been in a different project maybe?
Aeon Timeline.
This also requires that I not have the project open in Scrivener? My short-term work-around is to export from Timeline to a HTML view, but seriously?
Fonts - I still don’t understand
Some of my chapters have a big font, some don’t. I don’t know why. It’s distracting.
Character linking without Script mode.
Script mode is probably fantastic for scripts, but I’d like some of the features in my book mode, such as attributing lines to a character, or at least tying them to a chapter. Is there a way to do this?
So… on the bright side, I haven’t had the need to re-enter registration in about six months.
On the dark side, I never got an answer about that issue particularly, or about my questions above.
On the bright side, Scrivener seems powerful, and they do fix bugs that should have never escaped Q.A.
On the dark side, there’s no way, especially due to lack of forum support, to learn how to use those super-duper power features.
Good grief.
Three weeks on, I have no idea on the questions I raised. Also…
Is there a “View just Synopsis” mode? My chapters can be lengthy, the synopsis puts it into a few short sentences, and I sometimes write the synopsis first. Perhaps my mode is backwards. Can I see those as a document?
I don’t use Aeon, so no idea. Is this an issue that Scrivener is responsible for, or Aeon Timeline?
I assume you’ve used Tools > Options > Editor to set up a default formatting for new documents? If so, then Documents > Convert > Formatting to Default Text Style should put any chapter into that default formatting.
I spend a few minutes each day helping people out here, and since I’m not getting paid to do it, I get to pick who I help. I can’t speak for others, but personally, I find your posts snarky, so I’ve been avoiding them and just move on. I’m telling you this so you understand how the personality you project in your posts will impact the feedback you receive.
Yes. The next Windows version is skipping v2 and will go directly to v3.
Windows v1 doesn’t support multiple windows. Windows v3 will support Quick Ref panels, which provides the ability of opening as many editing windows as you want. Quick Ref panels don’t have all the features of the main Scriv editors, for instance you can’t launch Composition Mode over a Quick Ref panel. But they’re still very handy to have.
Sorry, I’ve never used Aeon Timeline, so I haven’t a clue about this.
The default font for new documents is set in Options. Tools > Options > Editor. Change the font for existing documents from the formatting toolbar. To change the font for a group of existing documents, select them in the Outliner, than go to Documents > Convert > Formatting to Default Text Style. (Backup your project before you try this, in case you’re not happy with the results.) Or maybe they have a big font because your editor is zoomed in? Just a thought.
Sorry, don’t know.
First try Corkboard mode, which was pretty much built for this purpose. Corkboard mode only shows one level of docs/folders at a time, so depending on how you have your Binder structured, it might not work for you. So also have a look at Outliner mode. You can select which columns you want to see via the tiny downward-facing arrow/triangle on the right. Select Title and Synopsis.
You also might want to go through the interactive tutorial sections that discuss the Outliner and the Corkboard, as you might get some ideas there too.
If none of those suggestions give you what you want, come back and let me know what’s not working for you. I’m sure there’s a way we can figure out something that will get you most of the way there.
I don’t feel that I started snarky, but my first experiences and the general lack of response had an impact. I hadn’t realized that L&L don’t engage on the forum. That seems unfortunately.
Thanks. Any sense of when? On their site, it seems to just imply “this year.” The QuickRef panels you mention do sound like most of what I’m missing; I don’t need to edit in several places necessarily (although it’d be nice rarely), but viewing for consistency would be a winner.
Thanks. I did set up a default font, but still wound up with a mish-mash, and different sizes between chapters. My best guess is that sometimes I write a bit in an email, or Word, or a text editor, and depending on where I’m pasting from, it goes wonky. Especially since I’ve moved bits between documents, and Scrivener seems to copy the formatting also.
Thank you! I’d played with corkboard mode initially, but of course didn’t have the Synopsis at the time, just the title. I hadn’t revisited. My structure has a few levels, but they’re large (books or research), so this is fine.
L&L occasionally engage on the forum but it’s not guaranteed.
I do have a bit of experience with Aeon Timeline and the Mac. Please note that questions about AT v. Scriv are often best asked on the Aeon forums.
Yes, it’s true that you can’t have your project open in AT and in Scrivener at the same time. But except when you’re actively syncing, your AT document and your Scrivener project are completely separate. So yes, you can have your timeline open in an AT window, and your project open in Scrivener in another as long as you don’t sync. Only when you want to sync changes will you need to temporarily close your project in Scrivener to run AT’s sync process.
The Windows beta is currently at Release Candidate #6, so they’re pretty far along now. That said, there still seems to be quite a lot of little things that need fixing. L&L isn’t big on announcing target dates, as they’ve been burnt in the past when those target dates were missed. So Windows v3 will arrive when they think it’s ready enough, and besides moving to the ‘Release Candidate’ naming convention, they’re not dropping hints. That said, I (and many others) have been happily using the Windows beta for months now as a writing platform.
When copying from another app into Scrivener, and even between docs in Scrivener, instead of doing Paste (Ctrl-V), I nearly always do Paste & Match Style (Ctrl+Shift+V). This tells Scrivener to ignore the source formatting and paste the text with the same formatting as in the paste to location. If you do this consistently, 90% of your formatting issues will probably go away. Paste & Match Style is your friend.
As I mentioned in my prior post, to change the formatting/font for a group of existing documents, set your defaults up in Options, then select the group of documents in the Outliner, then go to Documents > Convert > Formatting to Default Text Style. (Backup your project before you try this, in case you’re not happy with the results.)
