Cursor position when click on the end a text line (Structured)

[QuintinSeegers]

When clicking at the end of a text line in the document, the cursor appears to be placed at the end of the line. Instinctively, you would start typing, assuming you're adding more text to the same element.

However, when looking at the cursor position in the Structure View, the cursor is actually at parent element level. I.e. I have a Paragraph element, following by a (child) List element, made up of several ListItem elements. When I click at the end of the text for the last ListItem element, the cursor is actually  on the Paragraph element, rather than the last ListItem element.

Is this expected behaviour because the cursor is actually not at the end of the text, but rather after the last (hidden) element tag?

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

If you use the View>Element Boundaries (or Element Boundaries as tags, which takes up more screen space) you'll find that you get "extra" positions in and around element boundaries that allow you to better position your cursor in the Document View. I recommend keeping boundaries on, and turning off Text Symbols for best results.

-Matt

* The Boundaries will print when you print/produce PDF, so turn them off prior to updating your book and printing your doc.

[QuintinSeegers]

@Matt-Tech Comm Tools  Thanks. I just wanted to confirm it wasn't something silly we've done in our EDD to cause this to happen. My preference is not to show the element tags because it makes the document look cluttered. Also, showing the element boundries could be confusing as it looks like a [ or ] was accidentally added to the text, which could lead to frustrating attempts to delete it.

[Lynne A. Price]

Quntin,

   Remember you can turn element boundaries on and off depending on the type of editing you are doing. You might find them helpful temporarily in si

   In addition to element boundaries, you can look at the Structure View to locate the insertion point. You can navigate through the structure without clicking using  the Ctrl-Alt-arrow key shortcuts.

   You can also use the breadcrumbs displayed in the lower left corner of the document window to determine the current context.

        --Lynne

[Matt-Tech Comm Tools]

Try using them for a few days...I predict you'll find them nearly invaluable due to the additional control you'll have in positioning your cursor using the arrow keys on your keyboard and the Smart Insert for Elements dialog (either Ctrl+1 or the Enter key)

[Lynne A. Price · Accepted solution]

Quintin,

   Publication groups can use the word "paragraph" in either of two ways which I will call simple paragraph and compound paragraph below:

1. A simple paragraph is a sequence of sentences that start on a new (often indented) line.

2. A compound paragraph is a division of a chapter or section that may be required to start with a title and contains simple paragraphs, figures, tables, lists, and subparagraphs. Compound paragraphs are often used in military documents. 

   Does your Paragraph element fit either definition?

   Note that simple paragraphs occur within compound paragraphs. Instead of simply allowing text within a compound paragraph, structured documents that support compound paragraphs typically use an element for the simple paragraphs, but use different element tags for compound paragraphs and simple paragraphs.

   Simple paragraphs can have subelements such as EmphasizedPhrase, PartNumber, ForeignPhrase, and so forth. The designers of structured document handling in FrameMaker optimized response to some user gestures for the case that an when an element can contain text, any subelements will be text ranges within the same simple paragraph as that text. Suppose, for example, that a simple paragraph ends with a PartNumber. FrameMaker assumes that, rather than add more text to the PartNumber, a writer who clicks after the PartNumber probably wants to add more text following the PartNumber element. If your general rule for Paragraph contains <TEXT> and List, then it may be the case that FM sets an insertion point after the List assuming you are going to type text there.

   If your List element is allowed in a compound paragraph or section that does not permit text, then clicking at the end of a ListItem would set the insertion point at the end of the ListItem, allowing you to create a new one witht he Enter key.

--Lynne

[QuintinSeegers]

I've changed things around so that the List is no longer a child of the Paragraph element, which has fixed it for me.