The Journal Newsletter
Introduction
I missed the January newsletter. My apologies for that. So, in order:
Happy Belated New Year!
Happy Belated Chinese New Year!
Happy Belated Valentines!
This month we bring you some more tips for using The Journal 4, and Susan has provided a new set of writing exercises.
Thank you for choosing DavidRM Software’s The Journal!
Tips & Tricks
TIP: Tables that look like those in Word/WordPerfect/Etc.
By default, tables in The Journal look like those you see on Web pages. However, you can change the look of existing tables, and set the look for new tables. This tip shows you how to make your tables look like those in most word processors.
Changing Existing Tables
- Select the table.
- Click on the “Table” menu and choose “Table Properties…”
- Click on “More…” (next to “Cell Spacing”).
- Un-check “Equal Values”.
- Change the “Horizontal” and “Vertical” values for “Between Cells” to: -1
- Change the “Horizontal” and “Vertical” values for “From Table Border to Cells” to: 0
- Click on OK.
- Click on “Table Border…”
- Under “Border Type” click on None.
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK.
Changing the Settings for New Tables
- Click on the Table menu and choose “Insert Table…”
- Click on “Table Properties…”3. – 10. (same as above)
- Check “Remember Table Size & Properties for New Tables”.
- Click on OK.
Once you’ve done this, all new tables that you create will have those same settings. So you shouldn’t have to do this again.
TIP: Re-arranging Loose-Leaf Entries
You can use your mouse to quickly re-arrange entries in any loose-leaf category.
1. Click on the entry you want to move, and “drag” it. We’ll call this Entry A.
2. You have two options for “dropping” the entry:
2.A. You can insert it “in front of” another entry (Entry B) by dropping Entry A on (or to the left of) Entry B’s icon. The mouse cursor will show an up arrow when dropping Entry A will insert it in front of the entry you are hovering over.2.B. You can make Entry A a sub-entry of Entry B by dropping Entry A on (or to the right of) Entry B’s entry name.
TIP: Single-Click Links & Read Only Entries
The Journal now supports the Ctrl+Click to open links used by most word processors. You can still use a single click to open links, though, in “read only” entries.
In loose-leaf categories (like “Notebook”) an entry can be toggled to “read only” (no editing allowed) by pressing F4 (Edit menu, un-check Edit Entry).
In standard categories (like “Daily Journal”) past or future entries can be set to “read only”. You use the same hot-key: F4 (Edit menu, un-check Edit Entry).
The same hot-key (F4) will turn off “read only” and let you edit the entry again.
You can set standard categories so that *all* past entries are automatically “read only”.
- Right-click on the category tab and choose “Category Properties…”
- Bring up the “Standard” tab.
- Check “Past Entries Read-Only”.
- Click on Done.
You can still edit past entries. You just hit F4, and make the changes you want. The entry will automatically revert to “read only” when you go to another entry.
Writing Prompts
by Susan Michael
Free Writing Exercise – Write for 20 minutes using the following as your starter, ” A Penny on the Sidewalk “.
Poetry Exercise – Write a poem about things that are transparent.
Prose Exercise – 1. Write a pilot episode or synopsis of a soap opera, which has a title such as, ” The Strong, the Weak, and the Silent”.
2. Write a story in which a letter is found behind a mirror.
Journaling Exercise – Write about your passion for writing.
Memoir Prompt – Describe what your typical day as a child was like. Pick a period of your childhood like pre-school or elementary school, or a particular age like 4 or 6.
About the author: Susan Michael currently facilitates the Tulsa Writers Cafe for the Arts & Humanities Council in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ms. Michael has also led writing & creativity workshops for children, teenagers, and adults.
Submission Information
If you would like to contribute to the “How I Use The Journal”, “Writing Exercises”, or “Tips & Tricks” sections, or would like to submit an article about journaling, writing, or another The Journal-related topic, we would love to hear from you.
Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to: support@davidrm.com
If you are submitting for a particular section, please indicate which one. Try to limit your submissions to 500-1000 words. Submissions may be edited for length and content.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state this in the email. Otherwise your name (but not your email) will be used in the article heading.
As always, if you have any suggestions for, or bug reports about, The Journal, please feel free to email them. Both are always welcome.