On Mon, Dec 01, 2003 at 12:20:33PM +0100, Helge Hafting spake thusly: > > Of course code for deleting or "unapplying" an inset (e.g., backspace > > in pos 0, like in math) could be created as well. But what you will > > never be able to do in this paradigm is "unapplying" a charstyle for a > > piece in the middle of an applied charstyle, as you can do with > > physical attributes -- or more generally, creating arbitrary bit > > patterns of attributes. (But then I would argue "why would you want > > to?") > > Because people work that way?
Eh, people also insert empty paragraphs and expect them to be there when they come back :-) > Example: > I paste two big quotes from other text into my document. Between them > is a "and" or something that isn't part of the quote. > > (Because of "blablablah" and "blablah" we see that . . .) > > I could mark each quote in turn and set them to some quote style. It might be > easier to mark everything and then unapply the "and" in the middle though. Not easier, same number of steps. Only easier if it is "the way we've always done it", which I don't really accept as an argument. I do realize that near all (other) word processors use the "independent character attribute bits" mental model, which works and is consistent but somewhat messy to implement. This however is the "text objects with properties" mental model, which is quite different, but I would claim just as easy to learn and more logical/realistic. Which is perhaps why LaTeX uses it. The only thing really that is wrong with the current representation of these objects as insets is how they look. A text containing even many of them should look continuous and fluently legible on the screen, across inset boundaries. We aren't there yet. > Perhaps I even want to add the non-quote "and" _after_ pasting in the > stuff and setting the style. I.e. break up the quote, just as I > occationally break up a paragraph. Perhaps. Or perhaps you should just get used to the reality that *this is a different paradigm* and you use it best on its own terms. Just playing the devil's advocate here. > The user don't care that the latter aproach might be some more work for > the code. It is nice if it works, and I believe many will worry > if they can't insert "normal" text in the middle of styled text. Don't worry, be happy ;-) > Pasting some paragraphs (with various styles) into the middle of some > styled text is another one that ought to work. And can be made to fairly easily. Doesn't right now though. > Helge Hafting - Martin
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