Figure 2.2.2a: All types of syntax highlighting
There are a few visual aids available in the editor to create a more readable and user-friendly editing environment. By default, the following features are activated in the editor: syntax highlighting, line numbering, and folding.
Syntax highlighting colors or highlights eHTML syntax to increase readability. Keywords, special characters, parameter input, comments, and plain text may all be in different colors to set each category of characters apart from the other. The user can change the color scheme from the "Create→Preferences" menu item.
Keywords consist of tag words and their attributes, which are each subcategories of keywords, and thus are colored differently. Special characters are characters that are used to distinguish keywords from plain text or assignment operators. These include <, >, =, and /. Parameter input consists of values that attributes may take on; this includes both strings and numbers. These characters only exist on the right hand side of assignment operators. Comments are text that won't be seen in the final presentation of the lecture. This includes the comment tags as well the included note. Finally, plain text is anything else in the document. Figure 2.2.2a gives an example of all the different highlighting categories.
Figure 2.2.2a: All types of syntax highlighting
Line numbering numbers all the lines in the document. This feature combined with the "Create→Go To..." menu item in the menubar can make for a speedy method of jumping around the document. Figure 2.2.2b shows an example of line numbering.
Figure 2.2.2b: Line numbering
By selecting "Create→Go To...", the following dialog box appears.
Figure 2.2.2c: "Go To..." dialog box
The dialog box asks for nothing more than the specific line number that the user wishes to go to. Once the user has entered the desired line number and pressed the "OK" button, the cursor will be placed at that line number and the view will be centered at the cursor. Valid line numbers must be integers between 1 and the number of lines in the lecture document inclusive.
Finally, the editor can identify different topic hierarchial levels in the document and automatically create folding points, giving the user the ability to "fold" lower levels onto the parent level. The list tags (<ol> and <ul>) are what the editor searches for. By collapsing a topic, all topic content and subtopics are hidden from view. And by expanding a topic, all topic content and subtopics are visible. Subtopics are also foldable since they themselves are composed from list tags. When a subtopic is hidden from view (due to a collapsed parent topic), the subtopic folding state remains the same. For example, if a subtopic is collapsed when its parent topic collapses, the subtopic will remain in its collapsed state, even after the parent topic expands. The foldable lines are denoted with +/- signs at the beginning of the line. + points can be expanded, - points can be collapsed. In addition, the user may create his/her own manual folding points by going to "Create→Add Fold". Likewise, the user may remove a selected folding point by selecting "Create→Remove Fold". This folding feature may be turned off in the "Create→Preferences" menu item. Figure 2.2.2c shows an example of folding.
Figure 2.2.2d: Folding