Modifying styles globally

[Richard_A]

Probably a Mac question, rather than Scrivener-specific. It’s also pretty basic and I can’t believe either I or Apple are so stupid not to have worked this out.

I created a custom style within Scrivener, but I now want to change the font. The only way I can think of to do this is to select some text, change the font, invoke the Style dialog, click the ‘add to favorites’ button and replace the original style (how unintuitive is that?).

The problem is that this does not change all instances of this style previously created in the project - it only changes the selection.

Do I have to reapply the style to every instance? Surely there’s a way to update styles globally?

Also I don’t know how to find out what style is currently applied to a particular selection.

[AmberV]

From the FAQ:

@FAQ

The short answer: What Apple is calling “styles” in the Ruler are actually favourite format presets, and not to be confused with dynamic word processor styling, where one can change the style’s appearance and their entire document updates immediately.

The long answer: Scrivener is using RTF as its format, which has no built-in capacity for a true styling system. Word processors (such as Nissus) that use RTF+styles are unusual and custom coded (not portable between word processors). There are no plans to ever add this feature to Scrivener, unless Apple develops it. The unfortunate circumstance is that Apple decided to call their system of favourites, “styles,” which is misleading to those who are familiar with styling systems in word processors. Think of the Ruler’s styles as a way to apply formatting presets, and nothing more. They have no underlying meaning, and cannot be dynamically changed retrospectively.

[Richard_A]

Thanks AmberV,

I’ll be sure to check the FAQ first before I post here in future!

[xiamenese]

Would it work to make the changes you want in the “Text Editing” pane of the Preferences and then use “Document : Convert : Formatting to Default Text Style” menu option … perhaps having selected all the appropriate documents in the binder?

I’ve never done this, so I don’t know if it would work … On the other hand, Amber would know, and as she hasn’t suggested that, perhaps I’m wrong.

Mark

[AmberV]

That would certainly change the font and ruler settings for everything selected, however it does so in a “scorched earth” manner. This tool is primarily for normalising stuff you’ve collected from other sources—or if you’ve changed your mind about a favourite font and want to update old projects. You will lose all special format rules like block quotes, headers, and so forth. You will not (assuming your preferred font supports the appropriate variants) lose italics and bold.

So approach that tool with caution. It’s for adjusting the entire document, not just specific blocks of it. Otherwise, if that is what you wanted to do, then yes that is exactly what you are looking for.

[Richard_A]

Thanks xiamenese, but my question has been answered to my satisfaction.

FYI I had originally created a favorite ‘style’ (indented and italic) for quotes, then came across some italics in a quote and had second thoughts. I have resolved the issue by making italics in quotes into regular text!