looking for Word processor with advanced features - spoiler feature

[robin77]

Hi,
I am looking for a word processor that allows me to do something similar to the "spoiler" tag which is often used in forums.
in other words... a function that gives me the possibility to hide/unhide some marked text by pressing a button.

if you con't know what i am talking about, check this example (it's in the second post)
MagiQuest Forums • View topic - Spoiler Tags

i would also use a different solution as long as it provides similar functionality... any ideas?

 

[MilesAhead]

Evidently Open Office can do it. Maybe not with an embedded button in text, but I take it a toolbar button can toggle view/hide of text. Check out this thread:

[Issue] Hidden text button in Writer toolbar (View topic) • OpenOffice.org Community Forum

The other thing I looked for was some kind of Ole or ActiveX button that could be embedded in the document. But I didn't find anything there.

 

[robin77]

Thanks Miles,
I checked that post. The threadstarter states that he used to "hide" text in MS word and is looking for a similar solution in Writer.... BUT what he did is not exactly what I am looking for.

I really need a button INSIDE the text that expands/unhides a textfield. preferably with the possibility to even nest several "layers" of hidden text (hidden inside hidden inside hidden etc...).

It's a bit like having a folder structure inside the document and the user is able to collapse/expand areas (maybe a bit like the "plus" signs inside of windows help files.)

btw... I already spent quite some time looking for a solution. from what I have found so far there is no way to do it in word (actually i really dont mind, cause word is too bloated for my taste)
my big hope is to find a customizable lightweight wordprocessor which allows something like this. what makes the search a bit hard is the fact that i don't exactly know how such a "feature" would be called > i don't know what to google for ; )

 

[MilesAhead]

That's why I was looking for an Ole or ActiveX solution. The most common ActiveX Control is a button. Ole is related and has to do with embedded documents. So I thought there may be something someplace that implemented a button similar to the web page spoiler button. If not ActiveX Control then I suspect you'd have to use something that can have script in the doc, such as an html document.

In fact MS has an .hta file type that's html that launches like an application. One example is a script that has a Gui window with a bunch of XCopy settings for those unfamiliar with xcopy command line settings. I doubt it's useful as a general purpose document though.

But I'm no word processor expert. I almost exclusively use plain text editors.

 

[robin77]

Thank you again for this answer. I did some searching for .hta but didnt find anything helpful in this matter yet. I had another idea though. since all this seems to be fairly easy in html it might be a good idea to just stick with it. in that case i'd need a wysiwyg html editor that allows me to write normal text which is in fact part of an html document.

i actually have such an application and it's the one i use for almost all my text editing.... it looks a little like wordpad.
in one particular "mode" it lets me create a new "webpage" instead of a new text document. the editor looks and behaves almost like a normal texteditor. and has 3 tabs - edit, source code and preview.
after doing some searching i found some simple code which is usually used for the "spoiler" part which i have described before.... only i didn't get it to work. from what i could see it uses javascript and this probably doesn't work inside my editor. if i save it and open it in a real browser it works!
so, what i would need now is a non javascript solution.... but once again it's hard to find if I cannot exactly name what i am looking for. *sigh* ; )

 

[MilesAhead]

If you really have your heart set on a button I would try the .hta approach. When the user double clicks on it, it opens just like a text file opens the default editor.

Only it's considered an "application" on the system. You can read more here:
Introduction to HTML Applications (HTAs)

Your javascript spoiler button should work in it.

edit: the wysiwyg editor does get stuff on a page quickly. But looking at it afterwards is the tough part. They tend to stick a zillion "&nbsp"s in the page to space things. But look around. You may find a free HTA "toolkit" on the web someplace.

Also there are programming source code repositories for VBScript and JavaScript. You might find examples that can be modified or fleshed out to get what you want. Also those programmers will answer questions on the forums to help you.

 

[robin77]

Thank you VERY much for the link.
I have taken a look at it... but to be honest, from my past experience it's probably not a good idea if I really dive into it. The reason is, that I am too unexperienced in this field and at the end it would take up too much time creating this thing to my needs.
the reason why i was looking for something like this is to save some time in the end. I already wasted the whole day yesterday with searching.
Well, also from past experience I guess that some day in the not so far future I just will stumble upon something that is exactly what i am looking for... I'll just have to be a little more patient ; )

 

[MilesAhead]

There are plenty of editors that have a "region" feature. At least for editing program source code. You can mark a region so it can be collapsed. Kind of like the Explorer list on the left side where sub-folders are indicated with a plus sign. Clicking it expands the tree to show the sub-folders. But not as snazzy as a button.

I know what you mean though. Often when I'm programming I try to find an easy way to do one particular thing and it can take more time than writing the rest of the program. There are always stumbling blocks.

 

[robin77]

There are plenty of editors that have a "region" feature.....

Really? Could you please name one. I'd be glad to take a look at it. I don't know any Texteditor that can do that...
Not sure how useful it is, in case it's restricted to a special "mode" only though.

 

[MilesAhead]

Seems to be prevalent in scintilla based editors. SciTE is one.
Also the code editor in Visual Studio.

It's used mainly to collapse/expand blocks of code.

Scintilla and SciTE

These are text editors though. Not real word processors. I don't think you can export rtf or anything like that.

 

[robin77]

These are text editors though. Not real word processors. I don't think you can export rtf or anything like that.

I see. Thanks alot... I will give it a try it tonight.

 

[Barman58]

The way I would approach this from a word processor viewpoint is to utilise Styles to provide your levels of hidden text.

You could utilise the "hidden" character type but as this is only available at one level would not be ideal for your purpose.

The way we used to do this in the old days was the simple trick of setting the character and paper colour to be the same, thus hiding the text.

If you set-up a number of styles Hidden_level1 ... Etc. that has the text colour set as needed. You could then use VB to create a form button,[Button Set], to set the text to a visible colour on each level as needed.

Although I use the terms VB which is a Word feature one of the other word processors or even a development environment could be used.

Whichever route you choose it will not be simple but should be possible

 

[henryeight]

Excuse me ruining yr Thread, but this sounds like a good idea, for OpenOffice/Similar to create.
I guess the OP wants something that allows the reader to travel to an appendix-like block of text, or a picture, perhaps to explain further, if they need it.
I think this could be very useful for Tutorials, as it's my experience that you cannot cover all levels of experience with one Tutorial, so it is a good policy to think in terms of three.
The complete beginner
The occasional user
The user who has forgotten

This idea might replace this and allow greater understanding as needed without clogging up the basic instruction.

An example that springs to mind is taking the car to the local golf club at night.
If you are a learner driver many comments will not be understood, hence more detail even before starting,
The occasional driver might need greater detail, based on the way the route looks when it's dark
The ex-member who thinks they know where it is, but the roads have changed and needs more detail, including where to park, etc.

Do let us know how this search progresses . . . . I wonder that it shouldn't be another option in OpenOffice?
I'd vote for that . . . can you refine yr requirement, perhaps making it suit other applications? For example the ability to use it as a link to the internet needs some "enabling" in case it is aimed at minors, who could be barred from surfing.

Great Stuff.
H.

 

[Barman58]

Just had another thought - I assume this is required for On-Screen use - It may be easier to code this as a Powerpoint type slideshow -

I know with Powerpoint you can add hidden slides and set up alternate routes through buttons ....

• create your visible text screen
• Copy this screen for as many options you wish and add text, images, Links, etc. to each of the copies and hide the slides
• Add selection buttons to the first screen set to change to the slide with the relevant option displayed.

remember to add an exit / next button to each of the option slides that leads to the next slide



Quick and dirty example in PP 2010 (can convert to older version if required )
View attachment Q This is what you wish to ask.zip