Breaking up a section

[A Borg]

On Dec 08, 2004 at 3:28 PM, Curtis Clifton wrote:

>> Le mercredi, 8 déc 2004, à 07:55 America/Indianapolis, Tim Hodgson a 
>> écrit :
>>
>>> I have an item consisting of several paragraphs. Is there a way to 
>>> select
>>> a para and turn it into a separate item?
>
> On Dec 8, 2004, at 7:34 AM, Alexandre Enkerli wrote:
>
> (edited to eliminate top-posting)
>
>> You'll probably get straighter answers, but...
>> If your keyboard preferences are set to creating a new line at the 
>> insertion point on return, just press return. If not, I thought there 
>> was a shortcut like option-return but I can't find it.
>
> If the "When creating new row, split current row at cursor" option is 
> off, then moving the insertion point before the paragraph and typing 
> control-return splits the row.  There is a tip in gray text in the 
> Keyboard preferences that indicates this.
>
>> Speaking of which, this is one thing about OO that may seem very 
>> logical for people but should really be clear to users. Not sure 
>> which strategy to make it clear but maybe changing the Preferences 
>> dialog to be more explanatory...
>
> I was wondering this just yesterday.
>
> I wonder if it would help to have some sort of graphical indicator, 
> perhaps in the form of a toolbar button that shows what would happen 
> if you press return.  The icon would have several possible states 
> based on the preference settings and modifier keys held down: new 
> younger sibling, new child, new older sibling, new younger sibling 
> with splitting, new line in current row ...
>
> A similar approach might be used to give visual indication for what 
> the tab key will do.
>
> It's been awhile since I read the Apple Human Interface Guidelines, so 
> I don't know if making this a toolbar button would be considered good 
> form.  As a toolbar button, one could always customize the toolbar to 
> include/omit the button.  The button should probably function as a 
> button and not just an indicator.  That is, option-click on the button 
> would be equivalent to typing option-return.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
I have read the original question to be a "is there a way". I we do not 
limit ourselves to just
keyboard commands, then how about actions in a pop-up menu?

Basically then the user had to remember her preference setting (split 
at cursor position, or not),
but in the case of splitting one would select a text portion and 
control-click. Right now a menu
appears which gives copy, cut, paste, an assortment of format submenus 
etc. I think it possible
(even desirable, doable and interface-logical) to add some items which 
say "move into new child" etc.

One could even imagine double these actions in the menu, or even 
toolbar, and some specific keyboard
commands.

Just a thought...

Kei.