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Format area field controls

The following table describes the formatting options that may be available when entering content in a format area field.

IconNameDescription
UndoUndoes the last change made. You can undo the following types of changes:
  • cut/copy/paste
  • typed or deleted characters
  • formatting changes
  • XHTML conversion

To undo changes, click Undo.

RedoReapplies the action from the last undo. You can redo the same changes as listed for Undo. To redo changes, click Redo.
BoldApplies bold, italic or underline formatting to selected text. To apply bold, italic, or underline formatting, either select the text to which you want to apply formatting or place your cursor in the paragraph in which you would like to apply formatting and click the bold, italic, or underline button.

Left align

Center

Right align

Use these buttons to apply alignment formatting to text. To align text, Place your cursor in the paragraph to which you want to apply alignment and click Left align, Center or Right align

Bullets

Numbering

Use these buttons to create lists. To create a list, place your cursor in the paragraph to which you want to apply list formatting and click the Bullets button to create a bulleted list or the Numbers button to create a numbered list.

Decrease Indent

Increase Indent

Changes the indent of a paragraph. To change the indent of a paragraph, place your cursor in the paragraph that you want to indent and click the Increase Indent button or Decrease Indent button.
Insert Character
Inserts special characters into text. Special characters include copyright (©), trademark (™), Euro signs (€) and other unique characters. You may also use this feature to insert standard text, for example, names of products and so on. Available characters depend upon your system configuration. To insert a special character:
  • Place your cursor where you would like the special text to appear.
  • Click the Special Character button.
  • Select a character from the list and click OK.
Anchor

Creates an anchor to which you can link within the same format area. To create an anchor:

  • Place your cursor in the location at which you would like to create an anchor.
  • Click the Insert Anchor button.
  • In the window that appears type the name of the anchor and click OK.

You can now create a hyperlink to this anchor using the Hyperlink button.

HyperlinkCreates hyperlinks to Components, HTTP pages, e-mail addresses, anchors, or other resources. See Inserting hyperlinks in a format area.
TableSee Formatting tables in a Format Area.
ImageSee Inserting a managed image in a format area.
Horizontal line

Inserts a horizontal line. To insert a horizontal line, place your cursor in the position in which you would like to insert a horizontal line and click the Horizontal Line button.

Load images

By default, when you open a Component that contains an image, a placeholder is displayed. Click the Load images button to view images.

ValidateThe validate button converts the content of the format area into XHTML and validates the content according to accessibility standards. If the format area contains any errors, warnings or accessibility messages, the messages are shown in a dialog that gives you one of two options:
  • You can correct the errors manually.
  • You can allow the Content Manager to create valid markup.
LanguageSets a language attribute for selected text. Select the text for which you would like to set a language attribute and click the Language button. In the Language pop-up that appears, select a language from the displayed list.
AbbreviationDefines the full or expanded form of a selected abbreviated expression or acronym. A description is inserted as a tool tip. To insert an abbreviated expression or acronym:
  • Select the text for which you would like to define an abbreviation or acronym.
  • Click the Abbreviation button.
  • In the popup that opens, fill in the following fields:
    • Type—select abbreviation or acronym
    • Text—type the text that you would like to appear in the format area
    • Description—type the description you would like to appear as a pop-up
Spell-checkThis options will spell check the entire Component.

The following controls are not icons:

Font face selection

This option is not available by default. Your application administrator must explicitly enable it. See Selecting fonts in a format area.

Font size selection

See Selecting fonts in a format area.

Current elements

The "Current Elements" drop-down contains the currently selected element and previous elements. You can use this to select any element and view its properties. If an element has an associated style or class attributes, these elements are displayed with an asterisk character. The formatting options on the toolbar display the options available for the currently selected element.

Section type

You can apply a header level to text within a format area. To apply a header level to text, place your cursor in the line that you want to add a header level to and select an option from the Header selection list:

  • Paragraph—<p>
  • Generic container—<div>
  • Body text—no surround tag
  • Headings—<h1> - <h6>
Style

If defined, you can apply a Style to a current selection. The Styles define predefined formatting. These styles are predefined for the entire system. To apply a style to text:

  • Select the element to which you want to apply a style.
  • Select the style from the Style drop-down.

For more information about configuring styles for text, refer to the implementer's documentation portal.