WordPress.com

1. annewlindsay
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:04 PM

   Why isn't the program made compatible with my computer's word program -- I mean the program that I do my writing in, where I can easily indent paragraphs, change font sizes for footnotes, drag and drop, etc? I have to tell you I don't find wordpress easy to use from that angle. I don't find it intuitive. I especially don't like that I can't indent the first line of paragraphs. As far as I can make out the only way I can indicate the beginning of a new paragraph is by double line spacing between paragraphs. I found some instructions for varying spacing but the instructions were in computerspeak. It appeared to me that variations from the default program involved performing a series of functions that, to be honest, I don't want to have to learn. I just want to write as I do with my microsoft program or some of the free downloadable programs that I have used. I'd appreciate feedback on this.

   The blog I need help with is annewlindsay.com.

2. timethief
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:19 PM

   Microsoft WORD is not now nor has it ever been web compliant. It's filled with junk code for formatting.
   http://en.support.wordpress.com/microsoft-word/
   http://en.support.wordpress.com/microsoft-word/#using-word-cleanly

   Blog editors and word processors are not the same and do not work the same way. The web standard is one blank line only, so you cannot add more blank lines by pressing return repeatedly like you would do with a typewriter or in a word processing application. If you want to learn how to format and space your posts and pages see:
   http://en.support.wordpress.com/writing-and-formatting-poetry/

   If you are working in the Visual editor, to get single spacing between paragraphs hold the SHIFT key down and simultaneously click ENTER at the end of the paragraph.

   If you are working in the HTML (Text) editor, a single click of ENTER will give you a single-spaced line, and two clicks of ENTER will result in double spaced lines. http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2011/09/13/wordpress-formatting-and-spacing/

   P.S. When you create a new post, always make sure the Format tool is set to Paragraph before you start typing. It's in the Visual editor Row 2 first position "style". See the illustration here http://en.support.wordpress.com/visual-editor/#row-2 If you forget to do that then edit the post, highlight all in the Visual editor, select Paragraph from the Format tool, switch editor to Text then switch back to Visual and click Update.

3. timethief
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:22 PM

   There is no simple way to indent paragraphs as doing that is a print media convention and not a web convention. To do that you would have to use the Text (HTML) editor and code in the indentation on every paragraph.

   See here: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/how-to-insert-tab-at-beginning-of-a-paragraph?replies=4#post-594124
   See also: http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/formatting-text-pt-2/

4. timethief
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:35 PM

   To create footnotes see:
   http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/formatting-text-pt-4/
   http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/links-to-specific-points-on-a-page/

   To change the font size you will have to use the Text (HTML) editor and code in the change.

5. annewlindsay
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:39 PM

   Thanks for your reply. Yes. I did try those things. It just seems odd to me that the application is so reliant on me doing a bunch of stuff rather than just allowing me to issue one instruction by a button. I gave up trying to indent lines. As I read your explanation of indenting all I can say is 'not in this lifetime!) Maybe another application will be developed to make blog publishing easier for post-luddites such as I. Thanks

6. timethief
   Member
   Dec 11, 2012, 8:46 PM

   I'm sorry you are disappointed but you won't find any blog editors that behave like word-processors for print media behave.

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