Apache OpenOffice Wiki - User contributions [en]

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:33:57Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click '''Edit''' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose '''Format->Character'''. On the '''Font''' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not '''Default''', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to '''Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages''' to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the '''Default''' paragraph style setting (in the '''Fonts''' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through '''Format>Characters'''). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the '''Default formatting''' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages'''. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of a '''Paragraph style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of '''Character style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting ('''Font''' tab in '''Format>Characters''' or '''context menu>Characters''')

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in '''Format->Character->Font'''. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in '''Format->Character->Font'''.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in '''Format->Character->Font'''.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option '''Check in all languages''' in menu '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids''' and in the bottom area '''Options'''.

Edit the file '''dictionary.lst''' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:31:40Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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category=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText
replaceintitle=/Documentation.*\//,
include=question
secseparators= 
</DPL>

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click '''Edit''' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose '''Format->Character'''. On the '''Font''' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not '''Default''', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to '''Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages''' to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the '''Default''' paragraph style setting (in the '''Fonts''' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through '''Format>Characters'''). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the '''Default formatting''' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages'''. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of a '''Paragraph style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of '''Character style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting ('''Font''' tab in '''Format>Characters''' or '''context menu>Characters''')

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in '''Format->Character->Font'''. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in '''Format->Character->Font'''.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in '''Format->Character->Font'''.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:30:12Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click '''Edit''' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose '''Format->Character'''. On the '''Font''' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not '''Default''', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to '''Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages''' to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the '''Default''' paragraph style setting (in the '''Fonts''' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through '''Format>Characters'''). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the '''Default formatting''' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages'''. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of a '''Paragraph style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the '''Font''' tab of '''Character style'''. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting ('''Font''' tab in '''Format>Characters''' or '''context menu>Characters''')

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:27:04Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* My spell-checker does not seem to work? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click '''Edit''' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose '''Format->Character'''. On the '''Font''' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not '''Default''', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:05:25Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Where do I get a dictionary for my language? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click '''Edit''' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:04:49Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Where do I get a dictionary for my language? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

<DPL>
category=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText
replaceintitle=/Documentation.*\//,
include=question
secseparators= 
</DPL>

<table border=0><tr><td>
<inputbox>
type=create
default=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText/<INSERT FAQ TOPIC>
preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template
width=80
buttonlabel=Add new FAQ
break=no
</inputbox>
</td></tr></table>

This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in '''Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids'''.Click ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:03:23Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.
To assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraphs and character styles:
# Go to '''Tools > Customize'''.
# Click on the '''Keyboard''' tab.
# In the '''Category''' list, select '''Styles > CharacterStyles'''. In the '''Function''' list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click '''Modify'''.
# Click '''OK''' to save the change.

'''Note:''' You can do the same on the '''Toolbars''' tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T01:00:55Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? */

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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to '''Protected'''
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to '''Password protected'''
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click '''OK''' (in the password dialog)
* Click '''OK''' (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T00:59:32Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select '''Insert -> Section'''
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on '''Insert'''
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select '''Format -> Sections'''
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click '''OK'''
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the '''Remove''' button
* Click on '''OK'''
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "'''protect a section of text'''" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

'''Note:'''Once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T00:56:16Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*'''Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press '''F11''' to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Right-click on each paragraph styles that's being used '''> Modify'''.
* '''Now > Position > Spacing''', here check box '''pair kerning'''.

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T00:53:12Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select '''Edit -> Find & Replace'''.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to '''Regular Expressions'''.
# In the "'''Search F'''or" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "'''Find'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "'''Replace With'''" field, then click the "'''Replace'''" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "'''Replace'''" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "'''Replace All'''" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "'''Replace'''" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T00:50:10Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says '''First item'''.
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-11T00:48:42Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "'''First i'''tem".
# Click on '''Move Level Down ''' i.e. the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T22:24:05Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in '''OpenOffice.org''' that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the '''Styles and Formatting''' window, accessed by pressing '''F11'''. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the '''Paragraph Styles''' view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left '''Numbering Styles''', you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style '''Numbering 5'''. List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "'''First i'''tem".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T21:05:16Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the '''Stylist''' and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the '''Stylist''' header. This icon is called '''Update Style'''.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the '''Fill Format''' icon in the '''Stylist''', which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T21:01:07Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

<DPL>
category=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText
replaceintitle=/Documentation.*\//,
include=question
secseparators= 
</DPL>

<table border=0><tr><td>
<inputbox>
type=create
default=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText/<INSERT FAQ TOPIC>
preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template
width=80
buttonlabel=Add new FAQ
break=no
</inputbox>
</td></tr></table>

This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.

To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T21:00:19Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the '''Stylist list'''.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:59:51Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "'''Indent From left'''" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "'''Indent First line'''" field * Click on '''OK'''. The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:58:35Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

hTo Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:57:59Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

<DPL>
category=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText
replaceintitle=/Documentation.*\//,
include=question
secseparators= 
</DPL>

<table border=0><tr><td>
<inputbox>
type=create
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preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template
width=80
buttonlabel=Add new FAQ
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</td></tr></table>

This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:57:22Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I create a hanging indent in my document? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* To Use a pre-defined style:
** Open the '''Format Sty'''list (select: '''Format -> Stylist''' from the pulldown menu). Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "'''Hanging indent'''" choice in the '''Stylist''' window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* To create your own style:
** Open the '''Stylist''' (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "'''New ..."'''
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "'''Indents & Spacing'''" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:40:18Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

'''Note''': You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:39:30Z

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose '''Character''').
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the '''Font Effects''' tab.
# In the '''Effects''' drop-down list, choose '''Title Case'''.
# Click '''OK.'''

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:37:42Z

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select ''Format -> Character'' (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the ''Character'' dialog, choose the ''Font Effects'' tab.
# In the ''Effects'' drop-down list, choose ''Title Case''.
# Click ''OK''.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-10T20:35:39Z

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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secseparators= 
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preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template
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</td></tr></table>

This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# On the main menu , select '''Format -> Character''' (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the '''Character''' dialog, choose the ''''Font Effects'''' tab.
# In the ''''Effects'''' drop-down list, choose ''''Title Case''''.
# Click '''OK'''.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-06T02:24:54Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key:

* Select '''Tools > Macro > Record''' to start the recording process.
* Click '''Insert > Special Character''' and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "'''Stop recording'''" in the small macro recorder dialog. A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under '''Standard''', not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

*'''Select > Tools > Macro > Macros > Assign.'''
* Now follow > '''Keyboard > Functions''' and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the '''Function''' window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the '''Shortcut Keys''' list, and click '''Modify'''.
The key you have selected will appear in the '''Keys''' window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:24:33Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a 'Euro' character? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('''Times''' and '''Helvetica''', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.)

To insert a Euro character:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click '''OK''' to insert.

Note:
If you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:21:30Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert an unbreakable space? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Ctrl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:21:00Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert an unbreakable space? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
To insert an unbreakable space:

Hold down the control key while you type a space.'''Cntl+Space'''

You can find this and other keyboard shortcuts in '''Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts'''.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:18:14Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a trademark symbol? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a '''Serif''' font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:17:46Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a trademark symbol? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the '''Font''' list.The trademark symbol is available in a Serif font (character 212) or in a '''San-Serif''' font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:16:29Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a trademark symbol? */

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character'''.
# In the dialog that appears, choose '''Symbol''' from the Font list.The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the desired symbol .
# Click '''OK'''.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:13:36Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a special character? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas , graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. '''OpenOffice.org''' also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, choose Symbol from the Font list.
# The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the symbol desired.
# Click OK.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:12:04Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a special character? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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category=Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText
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secseparators= 
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preload=Documentation/FAQ_Template
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</td></tr></table>

This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the '''Command''' window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found in this menu.
# Click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas are graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. OpenOffice.org also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, choose Symbol from the Font list.
# The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the symbol desired.
# Click OK.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T18:08:48Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I insert a special character? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog.

To insert a special character:

# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Special Character''' .In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current fonts will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click '''OK''' to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

To insert characters used in mathematical formulas:
# On the '''Insert''' menu select '''Object>Formula'''.
# In the Command window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found within this menu.
# The Command window does not have a close button - so just click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas are graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. OpenOffice.org also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, choose Symbol from the Font list.
# The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the symbol desired.
# Click OK.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T17:56:41Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I change the default font? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the '''Stylist'''. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on '''Default''' and choose '''Modify'''. On the '''Font''' tab, set the required typeface and size. Click '''OK''' to save.
# To save this document as a template, use '''File > Templates > Save'''. Give the template a name and save it in the '''Default''' folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click '''OK'''.
# To make this template the default template, use '''File > Templates > Organize'''. Select the template you just created, then click '''Commands > Set As Default Template'''.

Now any text documents you create with '''File > New''' (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

You can also set margins, spacing, paragraph spacing, printer setup in the default template.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use '''File > New > Templates and Documents''' (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog:

# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current font will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click [OK] to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

Characters used in mathematical formulas may be inserted using this method:

# From the menu bar, select Insert->Object->Formula.
# In the Command window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found within this menu.
# The Command window does not have a close button - so just click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas are graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. OpenOffice.org also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, choose Symbol from the Font list.
# The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the symbol desired.
# Click OK.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/FAQ/Writer/FormattingText

2008-09-05T17:47:56Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* How do I change the default font? */

[[Category:User FAQ]]
{{Documentation/FAQTOC}}
{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE: Writer FAQ - Formatting Text}}

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This page has FAQs about formatting text in Writer.

'''Note:''' Many of these FAQs were originally written for OpenOffice.org 1.x and may not have been updated to reflect changes in OOo 2.x. We are working on checking updating all of them, but this takes a lot of time and more volunteers are needed. If you find an answer that is out of date, please either correct it or leave a comment on the "Discussion" tab of the relevant page.

Up to date information can be found in the Writer Guide, available from the [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/ OOo Documentation Project].

== Fonts and characters ==

=== How do I change the default font? ===
You can set the default font in '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts''', but that doesn't change the size of the font.

To change the size of the default font as well as the font itself, make the change in the default paragraph style. Then make the document into a template and set it as the default template.

Here's how to do all this:

# Open a blank document.
# (Optional) Use '''Tools > Options > Text Document > Basic Fonts'''. Select the font from the drop-down lists. Click '''OK''' to save.
# Press '''F11''' to open the Stylist. Go to the '''Paragraph Styles''' tab. Right-click on Default and choose Modify. On the Font tab, set the required typeface and size. Click OK to save.
# To save this document as a template, use File > Templates > Save. Give the template a name and save it in the Default folder. (You can put it anywhere you like, but that makes it easy to find again.) Click OK.
# To make this template the default template, use File > Templates > Organize. Select the template you just created, then click Commands > Set As Default Template.

Now any text documents you create with File > New (or the New icon) will have the typeface and size you want.

It's not as much work as it sounds, and you only have to do it once. And as long as you're going to that much trouble, you could set up a few other things in the default template while you're at it: margins, paragraph spacing, printer setup, and so on.

If you want different default fonts or sizes for different types of documents, you can set up several templates and use File > New > Templates and Documents (instead of File > New) to choose one when starting a new document.

=== How to easily come back to the default character format while typing when I just wanted to format one word? ===
Example: you write default, then underlined for a while and you want to come back to the normal styles.

In this example, you have pressed [Ctrl]+U after "then" to format your text italic. 
To return to the normal attribute press [Right] immediatly after the first "to" as following:

You write default, then '''[Ctrl]+U''' underlined for a while and you want to [Right] come back to the normal styles.

=== How do I insert a special character? ===
The simplest method for inserting special characters is to select them from the special character dialog:

# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, all the available characters in the current font will be displayed.
# Select a character by clicking on it. If you do not see the desired character, it may not be available in the current font. If it is not there, try changing fonts.
# After selecting one or more characters, click [OK] to insert the characters at the location of the text cursor.

On certain platforms, OpenOffice.org does not have certain characters available in any font, including emdash and curly double quote characters.

Characters used in mathematical formulas may be inserted using this method:

# From the menu bar, select Insert->Object->Formula.
# In the Command window, hold down the right mouse button to access the context menu. The available formula operators can be found within this menu.
# The Command window does not have a close button - so just click outside the formula box (anywhere else in the document) to close it.

Formulas are graphical objects and characters inserted using this method may not convert well to other applications. OpenOffice.org also supports entry of certain characters (accented characters, ligatures, monetary symbols, etc.) via compose (keyboard) sequences.

=== How do I insert a trademark symbol? ===
This symbol is only available in certain fonts. On Solaris platforms, the symbol is available in the 'Symbols', 'Serif' and San-Serif' font. To insert:

# Place the cursor in the location where you want the symbol to appear.
# From the menu bar, select Insert->Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, choose Symbol from the Font list.
# The trademark symbol is available in a serif font (character 212) or in a san-serif font (character 228). Click on the symbol desired.
# Click OK.

=== How do I insert an unbreakable space? ===
Cntl+Space: Hold down the control key while you type a space.

This and other keyboard shortcuts can be found in Help > Contents > Index tab > keyboard shortcuts.

=== How do I insert a 'Euro' character? ===
The Euro currency symbol is only available in some fonts. ('Times' and 'Helvetica', which are commonly used, do not include the Euro symbol.) Follow these instructions to enter a Euro symbol:

# From the menu bar, select Insert -> Special Character.
# In the dialog that appears, change the font selection to a font where you can see the Euro character appear in the '128' character position. The '128' position is in the first column, fourth row.
# Highlight the Euro character by clicking on it.
# Click OK to insert.

Be aware that, if you output your file to HTML, the Euro symbol will be converted to '¤' (curren).

=== I want to insert special characters with keyboard shortcuts. How do I do this? ===
From OpenOffice.org Version 1.1 on you can use the built in macro recorder.
To assign a character to a key, follow these steps:

* Select Tools > Macro > Record to start the recording process.
* Now click Insert > Special Character and choose the character you want,
then insert it and close the special character dialog.
* Click on "Stop recording" in the small macro recorder dialog.
* A dialog appears asking you to save the macro with a name.
Be sure to save it under Standard, not in the tree for the document currently open.
That way you'll be able to use the macro use it any time a OOo Writer window is open.

Now that you have recorded the macro, you'll need to assign it to a keystroke.

* Select > Tools > Macro > Macros ..., then > Assign.
* Now follow > Keyboard > Functions and find your macro using the Category tree.
Your macro will appear in the Function window when you've found the right module.
* Select a keystroke in the Shortcut Keys list, and click Modify.
The key you have selected will appear in the Keys window.

=== Does OpenOffice.org have a Reveal Codes functionality similar to WordPerfect? ===
No, OOo does not have this function.

== Selecting, moving, and formatting text ==

=== How to format a piece of text (not a whole page) in columns? ===
You have to use a section:

*Select the text you want to format
*Menu '''Insert-Section-[Columns]'''

=== How to correct the text of a hyperlink? (if I click on the text the target document loads) ===
Quick method: '''[Alt]+click'''

Permanant state: in the '''status bar''' at the bottom of the screen, click the field "'''HYP'''" (HYPerlink) to change it to "'''SEL'''" (SELection). You can now select the text/graphic of the hyperlink. (Change back to HYP at any time by clicking SEL.)

=== How to move paragraphs with the keyboard? ===
*Set the cursor in the paragraph you want to to move
*'''[Ctrl]+[Up]''' or '''[Down]'''

=== How to select multiple parts of the text? ===
Copy, cut, format, delete parts of the text in different areas of the document: 
* '''[Ctrl]+<selection>''' with one click, double-click or sliding.

Another method exists - the "lazy" one (don't feel about holding [Ctrl] over 150 pages!):

*Click once on the field "'''STD'''" (STanDard) in the '''status bar'''
*The field shows now "'''EXT'''" (EXTended selection)
*Another click and it goes to "'''ADD'''" (ADD to selection).

-> the '''ADD''' mode has the same function than '''[Ctrl] + click''' 
and '''EXT''' the same function than '''[Shift]+click'''.

=== I have some text that I want to appear with the first character of each word in uppercase and the rest of the word in lowercase (initial uppercase or 'title case'). How do I do this automatically? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select the desired text (for example, by drag selecting).
# From the main menu bar, select Format -> Character (or right-click on the selected text and choose Character).
# On the Character dialog, choose the 'Font Effects' tab.
# In the 'Effects' drop-down list, choose 'Title Case'.
# Click on OK.

This method also works for anything that can be drag-selected, such as a table row or column.

Note: You can also set up a paragraph or character style with this characteristic and apply the style. For example, if you want all Level 1 headings to be in title case, change the Heading 1 paragraph style and apply that paragraph style to all Level 1 headings.

=== How do I create a hanging indent in my document? ===
You have two basic options, depending on how you want your hanging indent to look.

* Using a pre-defined style:
** Open the Format Stylist (select: Format -> Stylist from the pulldown menu)
** Have the text cursor in the text that you want to format as hanging indent (or have the cursor in an empty text style and enter the text later)
** Double-click on the "Hanging indent" choice in the Stylist window. This default style has a hanging indent - but it also has a left margin offset of .19 inches.
* Create your own style:
** Open the Stylist (as described above)
** Select one of the "generic" styles such as "Standard"
** Right click (in the Stylist window) to get the context menu and select "New ..."
** In the dialog that appears, enter a new name for the style
** Click on the "Indents & Spacing" tab. For a .25 inch hanging style, you would enter ".25" in the "Indent From left" field. Then enter "-.25" in the "Indent First line" field * Click on "OK". The new style will be available in the Stylist list.

=== Is there something like a Format Painter feature that copies the formats of one part of the text to other parts? ===
There are two possibilities within OOo Writer.

For the first, follow these steps:

* Make the changes that you want, then, with the cursor still in the paragraph, open the Stylist and then you can either
** Highlight a portion of the text, hold down the left mouse button and drag the text over the style name then release the mouse button, or
** Left click on the very far right icon in the Stylist header. This icon is called Update Style.
* Now, if the changes you have made haven't been transferred already to the other relevant parts of your text, click on the "Fill Format" icon in the Stylist, which is the third from the right. The button is a toggle - so click once to turn the feature on, and click again to turn it off.
* Once it is on, select the style from the list to which you've just made the changes, then click into the text area that you want to change.

Another solution would be to actually add a button that acts like a format painter: It's an unofficial, but excellent addon written by the Francophone project. It adds two paintbrush icons to the tool bar, which copy and paint styles. Get it from here:
[http://www.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=23756]

=== How do I use styles? ===
These chapters in the Writer Guide show how to use styles in Writer:

* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0206WG-IntroductionToStyles.pdf Introduction to Styles]
* [http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf Working with Styles]

=== How do I create a simple outline-style numbered list? ===
It should look like this:
1. List Title
1.1 First Item
1.2 Second Item
1.3 Third Item

There are two tools in OpenOffice.org that give you the ability to create numbered lists. One is the Styles and Formatting window, accessed by pressing F11. It will open in a separate window and will default to opening the "Paragraph Styles" view. If you click on the fifth icon from the left, "Numbering Styles", you will see a list of pre-defined number styles. The other tool that you need is the numbering toolbar. This will appear when you are in a text area that has a numbering style assigned. It turns out that the numbering you want for the simple list above is already defined in the pre-defined numbering styles. If the style you need does not exist, you may also create your own styles.

To create the list above:

# Type in your text. The paragraph style that you use should not matter. This procedure was tested using the "Text body" paragraph style.
# Select all the text by drag selecting.
# Double-click on the numbering style "Numbering 5". List numbers (but not the sub-numbers) should appear.
# Place the text cursor into the list item that says "First item".
# Click on the right pointing arrow (the single one) in the numbering toolbar. Its name is "Move Level Down". This item should now have the number "1.1" in front of it.
# Repeat the above step for the other sub-list items.

If you need to make your own list numbering style, it is suggested to select one of the existing styles that is similar (in the Styles and Formatting window), then right-click to get a context menu. Select "New..." to make a new style based on the style that was selected. You will get a dialog with many tabs that allow you to configure your own numbering style. See <a href="http://documentation.openoffice.org/manuals/oooauthors2/0207WG-WorkingWithStyles.pdf">Chapter 7, "Working with Styles"</a> in the Writer Guide for more information.

'''Note: '''OpenOffice.org will often make numbering difficult when you do the following actions:

* Press the backspace key when you are in the style following a numbering style.
* Insert unnumbered styles between numbered styles.
* Output to HTML format with noncontiguous numbered and unnumbered styles.

=== How do I remove a large number of hard returns from text that were pasted into my document (for example, from an email message)? ===
Follow these steps:

# Select Edit -> Find & Replace.
# Near the bottom left of the dialog that appears, click on the box next to "Regular Expressions".
# In the "Search For" field, type: ^$ This regular expression says to search for a paragraph marker '$' at the beginning of a paragraph - programmer terms for an empty paragraph.
# Click on the "Find" button.
# To replace the hard return with a space character, type a space in the "Replace With" field, then click the "Replace" button.
# To replace the hard return with nothing (remove the character), click the "Replace" button (without entering anything in the "Replace With" field).
# If you have many hard returns to replace, you can also use the "Replace All" button. It is wise to save your document prior to using this option, in case it behaves unexpectedly.

'''Note:''' Regular expressions do not appear to work in the "Replace" field.

=== The space between the letters in a word seems just a bit too wide. It would look better if that space is being reduced. How can I achieve this? ===
What you need to enable is "Kerning".
Kerning is part of the typesetting process, where the space between
letters is adjusted to the appearance of the letter and its neighbour. For example, when a <tt>V</tt> is followed by an <tt>A</tt>, the shape of the letters would result in a little too much space between them, and this just doesn't look nice. The <tt>A</tt> should be moved a little towards the <tt>V</tt>.

This text is not kerned:
 [[Image:lvat1.jpg]]
 As you can see, the space between the letters is just too wide.
This text is kerned:
 [[Image:lvat2.jpg]]

So how do you enable kerning?

If you need kerning only for selected parts of your text, follow these steps:

*Highlight the passages of your text for which kerning needs to be enabled.
*Now > Format > Character > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

If you need the whole text to be "kerned", follow here

* Press F11 to open the stylist.
* Click on paragraph styles icon to open the list of paragraph styles.
* Rightclick on each paragraph styles that's being used > Modify.
* Now > Position > Spacing, here check box "pair kerning".

Note that kerning is controlled by information in the font data
(in particular the font metrics). Fonts that do not need such precise corrections, like fixed width fonts, will not be subject to kerning.

=== How do I protect (lock) a section of text so that the content cannot be changed? ===
Follow these steps to protect a section of text:

* Write or otherwise insert the desired text
* Select the text to be protected
* From the pull down menus, select: Insert -> Section
* Click on the box next to "Protected"
* Give the section a name (or take the default name assigned)
* Click on Insert
* You may also want to create a password on the section. This will keep anyone without the password from removing the protection set on the section.

To insert a password on a protected section:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the box next to "Password protected"
* In the dialog that appears, enter a password and confirm the password
* Click on OK (in the password dialog)
* Click on OK (in the format section dialog)

Follow these steps to modify a section that you have previously protected:

* From the pull down menus, select: Format -> Sections
* Enter your password in the dialog that appears (only appears if password protected); Click OK
* Select the name of the desired section (if, applicable)
* Click on the "Remove" button
* Click on OK
* Make the desired changes
* Follow steps in the "protect a section of text" instructions, above, to re-apply the section protection

Note that, once you put a password on a section, you will be prompted for that password before receiving '''any''' dialog that might have a chance to access that section of text.

=== How do I assign a keyboard shortcut to a style? ===
You can assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently used paragraph and character styles.

# Go to Tools > Customize.
# Click on the Keyboard tab.
# In the Category list, select Styles > CharacterStyles. In the Function list, click on the name of the style.
# Select a key combination and click Modify.
# Click OK to save the change.

Note: You can do the same on the Toolbars tab to assign a style to a toolbar button.

== Checking spelling and grammar ==

=== Is there a grammar checker? ===
No, OpenOffice.org doesn't have an internal grammar checker implemented. But for some languages you can use special extensions such as [http://www.languagetool.org LanguageTool] or [http://cogroo.sourceforge.net/ CoGrOO].

=== Where do I get a dictionary for my language? ===
Some dictionaries are installed with OpenOffice.org. Look in Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids. ''Edit'' button, then the drop-down list gives you all the languages available.

If you do not find the one you need, look here: [http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries/ Dictionaries].

=== My spell-checker does not seem to work? ===
Choose Format->Character. On the ''Font'' tab and make sure there is the little ABC✓ check mark in front of the language (meaning the dictionary is installed). If not, you've to download it (run the wizard).
If the paragraph style is not ''Default'', check the latter also to cascade the language to the whole document.

=== How do I setup the spell-checker to be the correct default for my language? ===
Go to Tools->Options->Language Settings->Languages to set the default language.

If you use a custom template, the setting above is overridden by the ''Default'' paragraph style setting (in the ''Fonts'' tab).

In fact, spell check management is mostly done by the '''paragraph style'''. This is the first place to look at.
NB: beware of the direct formatting (done through Format>Characters). It may lead to problems because if later you apply the ''Default formatting'' (from context menu for example), it will reset the language to the paragraph style setting. Therefore, if it has not been changed in the paragraph style, you will lose your language setting.

* Language is set up in the menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Languages. But this setting is overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of a Paragraph style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up in the Font tab of Character style. Which is also overridden by
* Language set up by direct formatting (Font tab in Format>Characters or context menu>Characters)

=== How do I perform a spell-check in a multilingual text? ===
When OOo checks the spelling of a word (note: word, not paragraph or text) it chooses the spelling dictionary appropriate to the language this single word comes from. This is defined in Format->Character->Font. This individual language setting normally is set to the default language but can be changed to any other supported language.

So, to perform a spell-check on a multilingual text you need to select each word that isn't part of the default language and assign the appropriate language in Format->Character->Font.

However, if you want to set the whole text to a new language, highlight the whole text and change the setting in Format->Character->Font.

'''Note:''' If you use character or paragraph styles, you can specify the language in the style, then apply a different style to selected words or paragraphs.

Starting in OpenOffice.org 2.4.0, there are [http://www.oooninja.com/2008/02/set-select-language-spell-check-switch.html three new ways set to the language].

=== How do I remove the dictionaries I don't need? ===
By default, OOo is delivered with a bunch of dictionaries activated by default (Swahili, Thai, Russian, English, ...). But for license issue, some languages cannot be included in this package. This is why you have to download them separately.

You may want to disable the exotic languages that you probably don't need, especially if you've activated the option ''Check in all languages'' in menu Tools>Options>Language Settings>Writing Aids and in the bottom area (Options).

Edit the file ''dictionary.lst'' in <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo and only keep the bunches of 3 lines (DICT, HYPH and THES) with the locales you want. More details can be found inside this file. It should look like that :
DICT en US en_US
HYPH en US hyph_en_US
THES en US th_en_US_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR
HYPH fr FR hyph_fr_FR
THES fr FR th_fr_FR_v2
DICT fr FR fr_FR-1990

Note that here, there are 2 dictionaries for a same language (French): one for the 'old' rules, one for the 'new' rules.

=== I want to upgrade OOo, what about my settings for languages? ===
Beware, at each minor upgrade (2.#.# branches), the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder is overwritten by the new one. So you loose any customization (installed dics and removed ones), both on Windows and Linux; except that installed dics in the user profile are kept of course. You'll also get the whole bunch of dics delivered out of the box again. For major upgrades (2.# branches), the former /dict folder should remain.

As a workaround, you can put the content of the <OOo install folder>/share/dict/ooo folder in <OOo user profile>/user/wordbook (dictionary.lst + dictionaries), same as Linux. So, keep a ''dictionary.lst'' file with the added dics here and it will be taken into account in parallel with the ''dictionary.lst'' and the standard dics in the main program folder. But you still have to edit the standard ''dictionary.lst'' to remove all the unwanted dictionaries at each upgrade (see above).

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T07:02:53Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
And it is fast (for most operations it is twice as fast as PostgreSQL and MySQL).It also has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and manage the data base files.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server (local or remote) is needed to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange it.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

Some of its disadvantages are:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields or modify their properties once the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, the last two disadvantages are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T07:01:47Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
And it is fast (for most operations it is twice as fast as PostgreSQL and MySQL).It also has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and manage the data base files.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server (local or remote) is needed to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange it.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

Some of its disadvantages are:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields or modify their properties once the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, last two disadvantages are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T06:57:57Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
And it is fast (for most operations it is twice as fast as PostgreSQL and MySQL).It also has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and manage the data base files.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server (local or remote) is needed to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange it.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

and some disadvantages:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields nor to modify their properties once that the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, the two last are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T06:55:15Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
And it is fast (for most operations it is twice as fast as PostgreSQL and MySQL).It also has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and manage the data base files.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server (local or remote)is needed to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange it.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice separate and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

and some disadvantages:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields nor to modify their properties once that the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, the two last are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T06:52:59Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* What is SQLite? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
And it is fast (for most operations it is twice as fast as PostgreSQL and MySQL).It also has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and manage the data base files.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server is needed (local or remote) to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange them.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice separate and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

and some disadvantages:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields nor to modify their properties once that the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, the two last are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}

Documentation/SL/How Tos/Uporaba SQLite z OpenOffice.org

2008-07-18T06:47:53Z

Supriyabharadwaj: /* What is SQLite? */

{{Documentation/NeedsRework}}
{{Documentation/Outdated|1.x}}



=Introduction=

The aim of this guide is to help OpenOffice.org users to take advantage of the SQLite database engine as a data source.

==What is SQLite?==

[http://www.sqlite.org/ SQLite] is a basic database engine that implements most of the features of SQL92.
Unlike PostgreSQL and MySQL, SQLite stores a whole data base with all its tables in a single file. Other
benefits are: database access does not require a database server, database files can be freely shared between
machines with different byte orders and databases can be up to 2 terabytes (241 bytes) in size.
Plus it is fast (twice as much as PostgreSQL and MySQL for most operations) and has a small memory footprint.

Data management can be achieved in the following ways:
# Via a C/C++ Linux library or Windows DLL.
# Via an in-line program (sqlite: available under Linux and Windows) that makes it possible to create and to manage the files of data bases.
# Via the SQLite PHP module or, if you have, PHP version 5 internally to a SQLite database.
# Via ODBC (Linux and Windows) which allows any application supporting this standard to reach a SQLite database.
# Using the [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.htm experimental SDBC SQLite driver]

This guide addresses ODBC which OpenOffice.org uses to attach to databases and SQLite, in particular.

==Why use SQLite with OpenOffice.org?==

The use of SQLite has many advantages:

* The data base is in only one file, in contrast to dBASE which creates a file per table, making it easy to exchange databases between various users.
* Java JRE or SDK is not required to support SQLite.
* No server is needed (local or remote) to access a database.
* ODBC drivers exist for *NIX and for Windows, thus enabling users of both environments to access data and exchange them.
* A [http://dba.openoffice.org/drivers/sqlite/index.html new SDBC driver] (native to OpenOffice.org) is available for experimentation.
* Sophisticated graphic interfaces, such as those of msaccess, can be easily developed using the forms, queries, states and macros of OpenOffice.org. These interfaces are stored separately in OpenOffice separate and can also be exchanged between users under UNIX or Windows.

and some disadvantages:

* Modifying the structure of a SQLite table after its creation is not directly possible. This means that you cannot easily add fields nor to modify their properties once that the table is created. Therefore you must prepare the structure of your tables before creating them.
* OpenOffice.org requires the use of the ODBC driver for accessing a SQLite database thus making this operation somewhat complicated. First it must be declared in ODBC and then in OpenOffice.org. The native SDBC driver should correct this situation when it is production ready.
* The initial database file cannot be created with OpenOffice.org but by using other tools.

In short, the principal advantages of the use of SQLite with OpenOffice.org are the format of data storage and the portability from one environment to another. In the list of disadvantages, the two last are not specific to SQLite, but are requirements of using ODBC. However, these are not as awkward as they do not take place during the initial creation of the database.

{{Documentation/Note|SQLite appeals to anyone frustrated with using MDB files under Linux, or who has had difficulty installing MySQL or other RDBMS server on their workstation.}}

=Installing the ODBC Driver for SQLite=

For OpenOffice.org to access a SQLlite database in production, it is recommened that you install the ODBC driver.
ODBC drivers for SQLite are independent of the SQLite project. However you can obtain a driver specifically developed by [mailto:chw@ch-werner.de Christian Werner] for OpenOffice.org [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ from his site]. This ODBC driver wraps the SQLite library and is available for Linux and Windows (for other UNIX, use the sources).

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

In order to be able to install the SQLite ODBC driver, unixODBC and SQLite must be installed first.

===UnixODBC===
You will find most of the needed packages pre-installed in the majority of Linux distributions. For Mandrake, for example, install the following rpm files:

libunixODBC2-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-devel-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
libunixODBC2-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm
unixODBC-GUI-qt-2.2.x-xmdk.i586.rpm.

{{Documentation/Caution|Check that your version of unixODBC is at least version 2.2.5. An older version will cause OpenOffice.org to hang when using the ODBC for SQLite driver. If your version is one of the older versions which is the case for Debian or Mandrake 9.1, it will be necessary for you to download and install a more recent version of unixODBC.

If you do not find packages that are sufficiently recent in your distribution, [http://www.unixodbc.org/ download and compile the sources]. Compiling from the sources does not install the graphic utility ODBCConfig. Thus you will have to manually configure ODBC.}}

===SQLite===

Before starting, users of Mandrake, RedHat and other distributions using rpm distribution, should check
that the distribution does not currently have the SQLite rpm already installed.

SQLite evolves very quickly and the packages present in any Linux distribution often provide a
version of SQLite which is dated, (for example Mandrake 10.0 integrates SQLite 2.8.6). At the time of writing, the latest
versions of the ODBC driver may include a more recent version of SQLite (2.8.13 for version 0.6.2 of the driver); however,
it is to better to get and install a more recent version than that in your distribution. In theory, the SQLite driver for
ODBC can be compiled with SQLite 2.8.6, but the using this version will introduce some limitations , such as no support
auto-incremented fields.

[http://www.sqlite.org/download.html Download] and install the packages <tt>sqlite-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt> and <tt>sqlite-devel-x.x.x-x.i386.rpm</tt>. This will also install the commandline version of <tt>sqlite</tt>.

For Mandrake (9.1, 9.2 or 10.0) users, the installation of these rpm will issue warnings that
<tt>libreadline.so.4</tt> is missing even though it is installed. This is because the rpm referred to above does not look
for this library where Mandrake installs it. Check initially with <tt>rpmdrake</tt> that the library <tt>libreadline4</tt>
is installed (if not install it), then install the rpm <tt>sqlite</tt> from the commandline and force the no dependencies check:

$ rpm -ivh sqlite-devel-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm –nodeps
$ rpm -ivh sqlite-2.8.x-x.i386.rpm --nodeps

If you have Debian or another distribution that will not install the rpm, [download http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] <tt>sqlite-x.x.x.tar.gz</tt> and compile the sources.

=== sqliteODBC===

Since there are no precompiled binary packages (RPM or other) of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>, [http://www.ch-werner.de/sqliteODBC/ download the source code from the author's site]. Download a version at least equal to the 0.6.1, to avoid limitations with OpenOffice.org. If you have
downloaded the <tt>.tar.gz</tt>, uncompress and unpack it using <tt><nowiki>tar xvzf <filename></nowiki></tt>, which will create a directory
<tt>sqliteODBC-0.6.x</tt> containing all the files. Change into this directory and type the following commands for compilation and installation:

$ ./configure –prefix=/usr
$ make
$ su
$ make install

<tt>--prefix=/usr</tt> is optional, but is especially useful with Mandrake distributions, to install the driver in <tt>/usr/lib</tt> rather than in the default location, <tt>/usr/local/lib</tt>.

{{Documentation/Note|Certain dependences are necessary to the compilation of the driver. For example, if compilation fails by saying that <tt>ltdl.h</tt> is not found, it will be necessary for you to install the corresponding library/development package (<tt>libltdl3-devel</tt> under Mandrake) before restarting the compilation process.}}

To complete installation, the driver should be integrated into <tt>unixODBC</tt>. To do this, launch the <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>
utility as root in an open terminal window or xterm and type what follows:

$ su
$ ODBCConfig

This command brings up the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin.png|390px]]

Click the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab and choose <tt>Add...</tt> Then fill the fields in the property window exactly as on the following graphic:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties.png|420px]]

Then confirm using the checkmark icon on the left in top of the window. Your new driver will now appear in the <tt>Drivers</tt> tab:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-2.png|450px]]

The driver installation under Linux is now finished and you can exit <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>.

For those who do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or who prefer to carry out this configuration manually, it is necessary to edit the file <tt>/etc/odbcinst.ini</tt> as root and add the following lines:
<nowiki>[SQLite]</nowiki>''
Description<nowiki>= ODBC for SQLite</nowiki>''
Driver<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
Setup<nowiki>= /usr/lib/libsqliteODBC.so</nowiki>''
FileUsage<nowiki>= 1</nowiki>''
CPTimeout<nowiki>= </nowiki>''
CPReuse<nowiki>= </nowiki>''

If you are comfortable compiling, the easy way is to [http://www.chwerner.de/sqliteodbc/ get the source rpm] of <tt>sqliteODBC</tt>. Once you have the srpm, it is easy to create a rpm for your distribution by typing the following instruction:

$ rpmbuild --rebuild sqliteODBC-0.60-1.src.rpm

You now should have a pre-compiled binary rpm ready for installation that, according to the author, self-configures the driver in ODBC thus avoiding the above manual procedures.

{{Documentation/Windows}}

==Under Windows==

Under Windows installation and configuration is easier. Simply download the file <tt>sqliteODBC.exe</tt> and execute it.
The driver installs automatically and is also configured automatically in ODBC. You will be able to check it by
launching <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> from the control panel:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcadmin-win.png|360px]]

{{Documentation/Note|A second, experimental driver is installed (Utf-8) but you are cautioned to only use standard driver.}}

= Creating a Data File =

An initial database file cannot be created directly in OpenOffice.org but, rather, this is accomplished by using either the utility “<tt>sqlite</tt>” on the command line, or by using the tool <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> which is graphic, very simple and available for both Linux and for Windows. If you wish to use <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>, you will find it as the third entry in the list at: [http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools http://www.sqlite.org/cvstrac/wiki?p=SqliteTools,]

The utility "<tt>sqlite</tt>" should be already installed if you use Linux and have installed SQLite from rpm. For other *NIX systems, you must build SQLite from source which you can find at [http://www.sqlite.org/download.html http://www.sqlite.org/download.html] .

Performance and usage under Linux and Windows is identical.

== Using <tt>sqlite</tt> ==

Open a terminal window or xterm and change to the directory where you want to create your database and then enter the following instructions:

<nowiki>$ sqlite <name of the database></nowiki>
SQLite version 2.8.12
Enter ".help" for instructions
sqlite> .database
sqlite> .exit

You can then check that the file was, indeed, created in your filesystem. The name of the file does not require a file extension, but you can give it the extension <tt>db</tt> so that is easy to locate as a database.

Using <tt>sqlite</tt> on the command line program also makes it possible to create tables and indices, to enter and post data, and
to make queries providing you know the SQL language ; however, it is more practical for beginners to carry out these operations using
OpenOffice.org.

==Using SQLite Database Browser==

After unpacking the file, launch <tt>sqlitebrowser</tt> and select <tt>File/New Database</tt> or the corresponding icon:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_dbbrowser.png|410px]]

Choose the directory in which to place file and then enter name of the database file and click on <tt>Save</tt>.

Using this program, you can also create the tables, the fields and the indices, to access data and to visualize them. While
<tt>sqlitebrowswer</tt> is suitable for these actions, there is the disadvantage that it does not show the full list of field types during
field creation. In this case, it may be preferable to do it later using OpenOffice.org.

=Configuring ODBC=

This step demonstrates how to define your new database in ODBC and to set that the driver to be used should be <tt>SQLite</tt> so
that OpenOffice.org can access it. This operation has to be repeated for each new <tt>SQLite</tt> database that must be accessed
through ODBC.

{{Documentation/Linux}}
==Under Linux==

Launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt>, go in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt> and choose <tt>Add...</tt>. A window appears then in which you must choose
the <tt>SQLite</tt> driver. In the next window, as shown below, you enter a name for this connection (for example the name of
your database) and enter the complete access path to the file which you created previously.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_driverproperties-2.png|380px]]

Validate the data on the screen, click the checkmark and you should see your new data source in the tab <tt>User DSN</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|: If in the place of this window you obtain an error message ("Could not construct has property list for (SQLite)"), your version of the driver is too old. Install version 0.6.1, or higher, which corrects this bug.}}

If you do not have <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> or simply prefer to configure manually, launch your favorite editor, open (or create)
the file <tt>odbc.ini</tt> in your home directory, and add the following lines to it:

<nowiki>[My Base]</nowiki>
Description<nowiki>= My test database</nowiki>
Driver<nowiki>= SQLite</nowiki>
Database<nowiki>= /home/<user>/basename.db</nowiki>
Timeout<nowiki>= 1000</nowiki>
StepAPI<nowiki>= No</nowiki>

{{Documentation/Note|If this data source must by other users on the system, launch <tt>ODBCConfig</tt> as root and add this source in the tab <tt>System DSN</tt> or <tt>data Source system</tt>, or create a <tt>/etc/odbc.ini</tt> file.}}

You are now ready to access your data base with OpenOffice.org!
:
{{Documentation/Windows}}

== Under Windows ==

Open <tt>data Source ODBC</tt> and go to the tab <tt>Source data user</tt>. Choose <tt>To add...</tt> and start by selecting the driver
<tt>SQLite ODBC Driver</tt>. In the following window, enter the name of this data source (<tt>Data Source Name</tt>) and the complete
access path to your data file (<tt>Database Name</tt>), or select it by using the <tt>Browse...</tt>. button

Validate the data and exit ODBC. Nothing more is needed and you may launch OpenOffice.org and be able to reach your database!

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_odbcconfig.png|410px]]

= Configuring the Data Source in OpenOffice.org =

Now you can finally start using OpenOffice.org with SQLite. In order to make use of your new SQLite database and to add tables,
it is necessary to configure the <tt>data source</tt>. To do this, use the menu '''Tools > Data Sources...'''.

In the window shown below, click on <tt>New data source</tt>:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_datasourceadmin.png|570px]]

* In the <tt>Name</tt> field, replace <tt>Bibliography</tt> with the name of your data source.
* In <tt>Database type</tt>, select <tt>ODBC</tt>.
* For <tt>Data source URL</tt>, select the button with the three dots (on the right-hand side of the field). This opens a window in which you see all the data sources already declared in ODBC. Choose that which you created in the preceding chapter.

Voilà, your SQLite database is now accessible from OpenOffice.org!

Now click on <tt>Apply</tt> without leaving this window, so that we can create the tables and the fields of the database as described in the next section.

= Creating Database Tables in OpenOffice.org =

In the window, <tt>Data Source Administration</tt>, go in the tab <tt>Tables</tt>. To create your first table, select <tt>New</tt>
icon in <tt>Table Designer</tt> to get a window in which create the fields for the new table:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_tabledesignbiblio.png|600px]]

# Enter the name of the new field in the <tt>Field Name</tt> column.
# Select its field type from the drop-down list.
# In the <tt>Field Properties</tt> zone, set the <tt>Length</tt> as necessary, default value of this field and choose the format.
# Repeat steps 1-3 for all fields.

{{Documentation/Caution|The creation of a primary key on a field type of integer is available only with version 0.6.1, or later, of sqliteODBC driver. Primary keys are useful in assuring that OpenOffice.org can add records to your table. In a table, the first field is often a unique identifier (id) that can be defined as the primary key.}}

Fields defined as type "integer", automatically increment the value of the field at the addition of each new record in this table,

Once you have created all your fields, checked that all is good and selected your primary key, save your new table by clicking on
the Save icon and enter the name of your table

{{Documentation/Caution|Once you have saved your table, you cannot modify it! I.e. you will not be able to modify the properties of the fields any more, nor add or remove!}}

This rather awkward constraint is specific to SQLite, which does not handle the SQL command <tt>ALTER COUNTS</tt>, and not the ODBC
driver. This limitation is designed in by the authors in order to make the basic database engine as light as possible. However,
this limitation may be eliminated in a future version. Therefore you are advised to check your table structure very carefully
before recording it.

If you must modify a table, the only solution is to create a new table and save it under different name. By doing do, you can
transfer the data from the original table to the new table.

Once a table is created, you can create an index to speed up queries and sorting on large volumes of data. To do this, select your
table from the tab <tt>Tables</tt> in the <tt>Data Source Administration</tt> window and click on the icon "To publish the table".
You are again in the window which posts the fields of your table. Select the fourth icon then "Outlines index..." and you will obtain
the following window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_indexes.png|450px]]

Click on the first icon "New index" and enter a name for this index. In the column <tt>Index Field</tt>, choose the field(s) to be indexed, the order of sorting, and check the <tt>Single</tt> box. Save this by clicking on the fourth icon <tt>To record the active index</tt>.

{{Documentation/Caution|When saving the index, you may see an error message, "<tt>Error connecting to the data source</tt>". To check if the message is valid, exit the index window then the table window. Re-open the index window, and check that your index is created in spite of the error/ You may find that it is but that the "<tt>Single</tt>" box is no longer checked. This is a known incompatibility between the sqliteODBC driver and the way in which OpenOffice.org dispatches a create index with ODBC! This problem has been identified and a patch already proposed that should appear in the next version of OpenOffice.org. Where you absolutely must create an index, use "<tt>sqlite</tt>" or "<tt>sqlitebrowser</tt>" which do so with no problems.}}

Now your database structure is created and you can use OpenOffice.org to connect, add data et cetera.

= Using a Database with OpenOffice.org =

This chapter is not specific to SQLite databases but its purpose is to succinctly present the various existing possibilities and
how thy relates to the limitations and possibilities of SQLite.

== Accessing databases via Data Sources ==

The simplest method to access your databases in OpenOffice.org is to open Data Sources dialogue using the icon on the Main toolbar
which is the vertical bar on the left in Writer and Calc.

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_writerwithdb.png|600px]]

You can find the name of your database, named as you declared it in OpenOffice.org, in the left part of the panel by traversing the tree structure while clicking on "<tt>+</tt>". You will find a heading "<tt>Tables</tt>" from which you can select your table and have the contents displayed in the panel to the right. In this panel, you will be able to modify each record directly in the table, or to create new records by adding them in the line with the "<tt><nowiki>*</nowiki></tt>" symbol.

{{Documentation/Note|If the first field of your table is of type <tt>integer</tt> and you defined it as the primary key, it will contain <tt><auto-increment></tt> provided you have not selected the complete line (i.e. You pressed "<tt>Enter</tt>"after each field). This means that this field will take the value of the preceding record's auto-increment field plus 1. }}

{{Documentation/Caution|This feature of auto-incrementing primary keys with type "integer" is not possible unless you use a version of the sqliteODBC driver that is, at least, version 0.6.0 or higher.}}

== Creating Queries ==

Creating queries can also be done through the data sources panel. To post the heading <tt>Queries</tt> of your base in the panel of
right-hand side and click above with the right button of the mouse. In the contextual menu, choose <tt>New Query (Design View)</tt>
and you will open a new window:

[[Image:doc_howto_sqlite_querydesign.png|600px]]

You must start by selecting all the tables, that are to be included in your query, by choosing them from the list then while
clicking <tt>Add</tt>. Then you can create connections by dragging one field of a table on to the corresponding field in the other table.

To define your query, select the fields which are to be part of the query and drag them to the table located in the lower part of the
window, one-at-a-time. For each field added to the query, this table will enable you to choose the order of sorting, grouping, criteria,
et cetera.

The various icons will then enable you to post the result of your query, to save it, publish it in mode SQL.

Remember creating queries offers so many possibilities that it is not possible to detail them here; however, a good guide to using SQL should help.

{{Documentation/Caution|The possibility of adding several tables during creation of a query on a SQLite database, and thus of querying multi-tables, is not possible with sqliteODBC driver, version 0.6.0.}}

== Creating Forms ==

Creating forms with Writer or Calc is a very powerful feature of OpenOffice.org that makes it possible to create a true graphic
presentation from your data base. Form features and applications are so numerous that it is not possible to describe them in this
document. However, you will find information on how to make forms in OpenOffice.org Help and on [http://documentation.openoffice.org/ http://documentation.openoffice.org/].

By creating subforms your options are multiplied tenfold.

{{Documentation/Caution|To create subforms in forms, it is necessary to use "named parameters " in order to establish the link between the various tables. For this you will have to use a macro whose installation and use are described in the following document: [http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html http://dba.openoffice.org/howto/param_subst.html].}}

== Exchanging databases between users ==

Thanks to the availability of driver sqliteODBC driver for both Linux and Windows (just as for OpenOffice.org, of course!), a SQLite
database SQLite can be easily exchanged between users of the two environments. It is necessary, of course, that each has an installed
ODBC driver that is aware of the target SQLite file and which is defined as a data source in OpenOffice.org. Likewise, Writer and Calc
files (sxw and sxc) containing forms and macros can also be exchanged between users of the two environments.

{{Documentation/Caution|If forms are to function correctly for each user, it is absolutely necessary that each user applies exactly the same name to the data source during its creation.}}

{{PDL1}}