Melvyn Mildiner wrote:
> I went to an XML training course last week and it was suggested that we
> use your XMLmind XML Editor for editing our XML files.
>
> During my subsequent usage I have a few suggestions and comments that I
> was encouraged to pass on to you. The following are in no particular
> order. Please note that I like your product and intend to carry on using
> it.
Thank you for this feedback!
>
> * It's not possible to select an Xref with my keyboard - have to
> click it with the mouse.
I'm afraid that such empty elements are intrinsically hard to select
using the keyboard.
However, you can do it if you really want:
[1] Use Ctrl+UpArrow to select the text node.
[2] Then, use Ctrl+Shift+DownArrow to select the xref which is the
following sibling of currently selected text node.
> * Tooltips ought to mention shortcut keys where these exist (e.g.
> instead of "Convert [wrap]" make the tip "Convert [wrap]
> (Ctrl+T)". You've done this for New, Open, and Save but it would
> be nice if it were done across the application.
Right. We'll add these tooltips.
> * I was told that there was a spellcheck but it's greyed out. If
> this is because I am using the free version of XMLMind then please
> make this clear in the application. A note such as "Only available
> in the premium version" would have saved the time I spent trying
> to debug why this feature would not turn on.
Free Standard Edition has a spell checker, but not the *automatic*,
check-as-you-type, one. Please use "Tools|Check Spelling" (Ctrl+Shift+S)
or the "Spell" tab.
The button found at the bottom/left of the window turns the *automatic*
spell-checker on and off. It is useless in Standard Edition. That's why
it will disappear from the GUI of XMLmind XML Editor v3.5 Standard Edition.
> * Please add ".xml" to file names when saving.
We are always reluctant to implement this kind of feature.
* Why ".xml"? I mean, why not use ".docb" for DocBook documents?
* It is strongly recommended to use ".dita" and ".ditamap" for DITA
documents.
* etc, etc.
> When converting to
> "HTML one page" please add ".html" to the file name.
In all cases, XMLmind XML Editor already suggests a name having an
acceptable extension. (e.g. taken from the document template in the case
of a new document.)
> * If I have four external documents referenced it would be nice to
> differentiate or break in some way to show me that there are
> multiple docs. Currently a single block of blue is shown. A 1px
> horizontal white line between files would give all the emphasis
> necessary whilst showing that there are different referenced items.
It is pretty easy to implement that by slightly modifying the stock CSS
style sheets, but we prefer not to do it in order to keep the document
view as simple as possible.
When from time to time, you want to see the kind of boundaries (and
other useful info about the included modules) you are talking about, I
would suggest to switch to the "Show info about included elements" style
sheet.
> * I love that the interface is tabbed for files but the industry
> standard for switching between open tabs is to use Ctrl+Tab and
> Ctrl+Shift+Tab. I know about Ctrl+Shift+P and Ctrl+Shift+N but
> since you're not using the Ctrl+Tab keys for anything else, would
> it be possible to add these keys?
Ctrl+Tab is used to insert tab characters ('\t') in elements having
xml:space="preserve" (e.g. a pre or a programlisting). (This, because
Tab always moves the caret to the following text node.)
> * Need a "Refresh" type key for a book that's composed of external
> docs. I have a book with multiple sourced chapters but when I
> change the chapters, the book doesn't appear to reflect the
> changes. Currently the only way to get the changes is to close the
> file then reopen it.
That would make working with modular documents really tedious! No,
fortunately there are solutions:
[1] When you work with modular documents, you need to use
* "Edit|Document Reference|Edit Referencing Document" (Shift+Ctrl+B)
* and "Edit|Document Reference|Edit Referenced Document" (Shift+Ctrl+E)
to navigate between the master document and the modules. (You have two
toolbar button which do that too.)
By using Shift+Ctrl+B and Shift+Ctrl+E, you'll automatically refresh the
master documents (plus other niceties related to the selection).
That is, in such case, try not to use Ctrl+Shift+P and Ctrl+Shift+N or
the document tabs.
[2] Alternatively, View|Redraw (Ctrl+L) will do exactly what you want,
even for modules modified outside XMLmind XML Editor.
> * Would be nice to be able to drag and drop selected elements
> (paras, sections, etc.).
This feature request has already been recorded in the User's Wish List (
http://www.xmlmind.com/xmleditor/wish_list.html ).
---
PS: You'll find a two-page, PDF, quick reference card with XXE v3.5.
