Hello,
My question has been probably already asked, but i couldn’t find the answer in all these topics.
I am a beginner, and i wonder how you did the vertical lines for your tips in the user manual (page 24 by example).
I find that very useful, but i’m unable to do the same !
Is it done with a table with only its left border ? Or is it another magic trick ?
Your software is really awesome but also complicated !
Thank you for your help.
You can download the source Scrivener file of the manual from the Literature & Latte support pages to see how Ioa did it, but beware that he uses some advanced mojo together with some additional magic that seems beyond the scope of most of us mere mortals (it probably isn’t, but it sure looks that way). If you do download it (and it is worthwhile, you can learn a lot from seeing how it was done), make sure you read the “About this Project” section for an explanation.
For a simpler, more every-day, approach I suggest setting a unique font (typeface, point size, colour - what ever combination works for you) then completing the editing after compiling to a dedicated document layout program like Word or Pages. If you convert your unique font-combination to styles in those applications, then formatting process need only take a few minutes (after, of course, you have gone to the effort of creating those styles in Word or Pages). This doesn’t need any behind-the-scenes magic, hidden wires or accomplices, just a basic knowledge of styles.
For example, in Word you can create a paragraph style that has a unique typeface, a line down the left edge of each paragraph (or right, or top, or…) and custom indentation and line spacing. In fact, almost formatting can be assigned to this style. Then, if you want another paragraph to share these same features, simply apply the style.
The reason I recommended using unique font combinations in Scrivener is you can, in Word at least, search for those formatting combinations and replace them with a style. Hence if you made all the text for your call-out boxes purple 10-point Garamond in Scrivener, then once compiled to Word you could search for all instances of 10-point purple Garamond and convert them to a style that is 12-point Arial Narrow in 80% grey, with a 3 cm margin and a 4-point black line down the left with 24-point buffer above and below the paragraph. Depending on the length of your document, this could take a couple of seconds to a minute or so. Repeat for any other paragraph styles choices you want to use throughout your document. Further, because these are now fixed paragraph styles, if you later decide you want them all changed to 11-point blue Comic Sans, you would simply modify the style and all instances of that style would change.
Hi Nom,
Thank you very mush for you answer.
I downloaded the user manual in the scrivener format and i begin to understand… slowly !!
The Tip comment is done by using the TIPBOX tag (Chapter 27 in the PDF user manual). I’ll try to use it but it’s not very clear in my mind the way of how to use it at this moment.
Let’s go for some experimentations !
Be aware that the manual, although written using Scrivener, is written using MultiMarkdown, not simply relying on the basic rich-text editor. So I think you’ll find, that unless you want to go the MMD route and to work out Ioa’s specific techniques, Nom’s approach will be much easier to get to grips with.
Mr X
Hi Xiamenese,
After many trials… unsuccessfuls… i will let this TIPBOX for ace users of Scrivener !
Your advices, you and Nom, are good advices !
It’s too bad that this TIPBOX is so hard to use… i regret that.
I thank you both for your help and your helpful advices.