discontinuous selection

[goch@unb.ca]

Am I correct that Mellel does not allow discontinuous selection(s) -- i.e. selection of several passages separated by text that is not selected? If it does allow it, I haven't found the keystrokes or mousings that work.

I find such a feature particularly useful when I need to add styles to a converted document. Often the headings or other text I want to select have no obviously searchable features in common, so I have to do it by hand. Selecting several passages and then applying the style all at once helps speed things up and reduce errors.

Myron

[Timotheus]

You are right: the present version of Mellel doesn't allow discontinuous selection. This is another much requested feature.

[nFamily]

I tend to use paragraph style for applying text style as well as paragraph style. Instead of clicking in the palettes, I make sure there is a text style associated with the paragraph style and then apply it to the first paragraph. Then I use Edit:Copy Special: Paragraph Attributes to get that attribute on the clipboard and then simply click on the paragraphs I want to convert the styles of and hit command-v. The way I work, it seems that it is a bit faster and less tension (as I don't like not seeing all my selections on the screen). This way I get immediate confirmation of changes and don't have to worry about accidentally deselecting off screen sections...

[Benja]

That's a good tip nFamily, but discontinuous selection is pretty basic. We've been doing it in Word and the Finder for years. I think it ought to be a priority.