Can anyone help. I’m struggling to get the Editor formatting (currently using the program defaults) to begin each paragraph with an indent. It seems to be already selected in the formatting ruler, but it doesn’t do anything to the text. I must be overlooking something simple but can’t figure out what it is. I used to use Scrivener a lot, a few years ago, and never managed to understand this aspect of it, so that my big projects have pages in all different styles, which is a nightmare to work with. Constructive advice greatly appreciated!
You can set a default paragraph format at the program level (Scriv prefs) or at the Project level. The interface is the same. You are shown a sample paragraph and have little toolbar tools for setting its format.
Changing this default paragraph format does not change existing paragraphs. It just effects new paras you type. But you can select a swath of paras and applying the (new) default paragraph format to them. (Format menu, I think? Am on my phone in transit and so cannot check.)
Does any of this help?
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Really helpful! Thanks for taking the time. I knew it must be something simple! Many thanks
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Select all the documents in the Draft/Manuscript, then Documents → Convert → Text to Default Formatting… will do it all in one go.
Mark
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Great! Very helpful. Thanks so much
OK, I am in the editing phase. I need space between small changes in a scene, and I do not want a line space, only a starting space for the next line, so it does not start at the same line like the rest of the text. I have read that you should not do space tab. Is there somewhere you can implement that space with a short cut key or something ?
My proofreader says I need to divide the text, so it is easier to read. I probably got 4 scenes within a chapter, and the scenes need that small hint of space when the sentence starting.
I mean like this;
Here is a test line for you to read. The text might be several lines and rather long, does not matter. SO the next line is what I want.
…To start here, with space before the sentence start.
Cheers
How is this different from a paragraph break?
What I think @Endie72 means is “How do I set a first line indent?” I’m not at my computer at the moment, so I’ll do it when I am if none of you has shown how first.
Mark
Yes that is right Xiamenese.
WHat I do now is- Format - Paragraph-increase/decrease Indent- Increase first line indent.
BUT, it works sometimes where I want it, then further down the text it wont do it.
I have also an issue in different text boxes, where sometimes it automatically doing this but I have not changed a setting. It is doing my head in.
You need to set the first line indent in either File → Options → Editing → Formatting (Scrivener-wide), or in Project → Project Settings… → Formatting (this project only), and then use Documents → Convert → Text to Default Formatting.
For the last stage, a Windows user will have to help you how best to do the last stage in bulk; as a Mac user, I don’t know if selecting all the documents in the Binder and going to the menu command will work in Windows.
Note also, if you have created a “Body” or “Normal” style, paragraphs so marked will not change. Scrivener is not WYSIWYG like Word, so “No Style” in the editor compiles to “Body/Normal” depending on the target format. Creating your own style will only lead to complications; keep styles for paragraphs like block quotes and headings which differ from the normal.
Hope that helps.
Mark
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Ok Thank you Will look at that… cheers
Something additional that is worth reflecting on:
Since Compile can cast a desired format on body paragraphs at compile time, you can consider how you would like to see your Draft in progress while you work on it, as opposed to how you want to see it when you compile for output.
While I typically set my compile to produce paragraphs set with first-line indent and no space between paragraphs, I have my Scriv default paragraph set with space between paragraphs and no first-line indent — so that is what I see in the Editir pane. I do that, because when I am composing, I really want to see where those paragraphs are breaking.
(I am also among those who want to see my drafts look drafty, so I use Courier New to show me that these draft words are not precious and things are not set in stone.)
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