Re: Appleworks WP Question...

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4smk9j$c25@news.smart.net>, bard@smarty.smart.net (E.G. Land) wrote:

> Why is it my document loses its format whenever I save and retrieve?

Which version of AppleWorks are you using?  If it is AppleWorks 5.0 or
5.1, then there is a possible reason: if you originally started the
document by opening a text file, then AppleWorks may still be saving it as
a text file, losing all formatting.  There is a configuration option to
select whether text files are saved as text.

If you want to retain this feature, but want to save a specific file as
AWP, then you can probably just turn the option off before saving the
document.

(The option is under "Word Processor Options", in the AppleWorks
configuration menu under "Other Activities", if I remember right.)

> Second, I've yet to figure how to get the left margin working like
> it should. I'll do the apple "O" command, set my lm at "1", escape
> back into the document and no dice -- no left margin. The cursor
> is flat against the furthermost point of the screen.

This is normal.  AppleWorks doesn't show the left margin on the screen (it
does not claim to be a WYSIWYG word processor).  If you reveal codes
(Apple-Z), you should see an embedded left margin command at the right
place.  The "Indent" command (Apple-O, type "IN") is visible on the
screen.

> Additionally, as I noted above, when I save, get out of AW, then come
> back later, all the formatting I've done is lost anyway. Also, the
> split-screen command doesn't appear to be working as well as the
> outlinger option.

Ah - this proves you are using AppleWorks 5.  I'm not sure if AppleWorks 5
remembers the split screen option when you save a document - AppleWorks
4.x certainly didn't.  The outliner formatting information would also be
lost if the document was being saved as a TXT file instead of AWP.  Check
the directory listing and see if the file is shown as 'Text' instead of
'Word Processor'.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail Mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, NEW ZEALAND