Use this tool to insert short blocks of text, such as a caption or title, into your publication. For larger blocks of text or to import a file created with a word processor, use the Article or Linked-Article Tools described earlier in this section.


To add text to your publication, use the mouse to draw a rectangle where you would like the text to appear. The Text Properties screen will be displayed, allowing you to enter and format your text.


The Text Properties screen is divided into three sections indicated by the icon images on the left: General, Drag & Drop and Actions. To view the settings for a section, click the corresponding icon.



General

The large space in the middle of this screen is the text editor where you will enter and format your text. The editor functions very much like a miniature word processor – just type the desired text into the editor window. Above the editor are several buttons that will assist you in formatting and editing your text. These buttons are described below:

Insert text from a file.

Export text to a file.

Undo the last edit.

Cut the selected text to the clipboard.

Copy the selected text to the clipboard.

Paste text from the clipboard into the editor.

Delete the selected text.

Create a Hyperlink.

Edit the Hyperlink under the cursor.

Delete the Hyperlink under the cursor.

Align the text to the left.

Align the text to the center.

Align the text to the right.

Insert an extended ASCII character into the text. (The characters available depend on the font selected.)

Insert a VisualNEO Win variable into the text.

Select a font size for the selected text.

Bold the selected text.

Italicize the selected text.

Underline the selected text.

Display the selected text as Superscript.

Display the selected text as Subscript.

Display the selected text as Strikethrough.

Select a font to be used for the entire text block.


Hyperlinks containing hidden Action Commands can be inserted into your text. At runtime, Hyperlinks appear as underlined text, which readers can click to execute the associated Actions. Hyperlinks are often used to navigate between pages or display information related to the underlined text.


To define a Hyperlink, highlight a word or phrase and click the button. VisualNEO Win’s Action Editor will appear, allowing you to specify what will happen when the reader clicks this Hyperlink.


A Variable is an area of the computer’s memory that you can use to temporarily store information (text or numbers) relevant to your publication. For example, you might request that your reader enter his or her name at the start of a publication. That variable could then be used to personalize the publication. For example, you might enter something like this into a Text Object:


Suddenly, [Name] saw a bright flash in the sky. "Could it be a spaceship," [Name] asked? No, it’s probably just an airplane.


Notice the word Name surrounded by square brackets - that’s a variable. In VisualNEO Win parlance, the names of variables are always surrounded by [brackets]. That’s how VisualNEO Win knows that you’re referring to a variable called [Name] and not the word “Name.” At runtime, VisualNEO Win will automatically update your paragraph with the contents of any variables you specify. For example, the same paragraph as the reader might see it:


Suddenly, Billy Johnson saw a bright flash in the sky. "Could it be a spaceship," Billy Johnson asked? No, it’s probably just an airplane.


See Understanding Actions and Variables for more information about using variables.


Adjust the Left/Right and Top/Bottom Margins to add space between your text and the border of the Text object. A margin of zero will butt the text up against the edge of the object.


Drag & Drop

Simple Text objects can be configured to support drag and drop functions, allowing readers of your publication to move the object using the mouse. Drag and drop modes include None, Manual and Automatic. When None is selected, the object cannot be dragged. Manual allows the object to be dragged anywhere on the page. Automatic allows you to specify other objects to serve as drop targets. When using automatic mode, VisualNEO Win only will allow the dragged Simple text to be dropped on top of objects that appear in the drop target list. You can modify the behavior of both of these modes using the “Drag Drop” Action. Please refer to the Polygon/Hotspot Tool topic for a more detailed discussion of Drag and Drop.


Actions

In addition to Hyperlinks embedded within the text, Simple Text objects also support the following Action Events: Left Click, Right Click, Mouse Enter, Mouse Exit and Drag Drop. Click the appropriate tab at the bottom of the Action Editor to create or edit Actions for the events you want to control. See Understanding Actions and Variables and Action Command Reference for a complete discussion of the Action Editor and Action Commands.