I have a rtf file that I need to save as plain text. It is vital, however, that the indent structure be maintained. The text file will then be processed with my text editor into a format that can be imported into a RDBMS. The indents are at 4 different levels (eg .3 - .5 - .7 - .9 inches) and each one is represented by a style. Is it possible to convert "indent1", "indent2", etc. to spaces or tabs so the .txt file will preserve the structure? TIA.
Al Cantley
Convert Indent Styles To Tabs?
Re: Replace indents with tabs or spaces
Greetings–
Note that I assume that each specific paragraph indent is part of the properties of the corresponding style ("indent1", "indent2", etc.)
The method is a bit convoluted but it works on my system:
1. Press F6 to display the Control Board.
2. Click the “Styles” button to open the Control Board Styles panel.
3. Select the "indent1" style in the Styles panel.
4. Press the “Modify style” button on the Styles panel bottom toolbar.
5. Press the “List…” button in the “Edit Style” dialog.
6. Click to display the “Outline” tab.
7. Choose “Level 1” on the left.
8. Choose “(none)” in the “Number style” drop-down list.
9. Delete all characters from the “Text” box on the right, then type 3 dash characters.
10. Choose “Nothing” from the “Follow text with” drop-down list.
11. OK out of the dialog.
12. Repeat steps 3 to 11 with the "indent2", "indent3", "indent4" styles, but
a. Use “Level 2” for the "indent2" style, “Level 3” for the "indent3" style, and “Level 4” for the "indent4" style in the “Edit Style” dialog.
b. When you get to step 9, type 6 dash characters for the "indent2" style, 9 dash characters for the "indent3" style, and 12 dash characters for the "indent4" style.
13. When this is done, select the whole document (or the portion that you want to save), right-click and choose “Save selection as…” from the context menu.
14. In the Save Selection As dialog, choose “Text files (*.txt)” from the “File type” drop-down list.
14. You’ll get a “Warning” dialog. Press the “Yes” button to save as “ANSI Plain Text”.
15. Open the saved text file in a pure text editor.
16. Press Ctrl+H to open its Replace dialog.
17. Check the “Whole words only” option.
18. Replace 3 dashes with 3 space characters.
19. Replace 6 dashes with 6 space characters.
20. Replace 9 dashes with 9 space characters.
21. Replace 12 dashes with 12 space characters.
Your text file should have the same type of indents as the original RTF document.
Note that you can use any (other) appropriate number of space characters in the Replace With box to adjust the length of the resulting indents.
Hope this works for you!
Cheers
Robert
Note that I assume that each specific paragraph indent is part of the properties of the corresponding style ("indent1", "indent2", etc.)
The method is a bit convoluted but it works on my system:
1. Press F6 to display the Control Board.
2. Click the “Styles” button to open the Control Board Styles panel.
3. Select the "indent1" style in the Styles panel.
4. Press the “Modify style” button on the Styles panel bottom toolbar.
5. Press the “List…” button in the “Edit Style” dialog.
6. Click to display the “Outline” tab.
7. Choose “Level 1” on the left.
8. Choose “(none)” in the “Number style” drop-down list.
9. Delete all characters from the “Text” box on the right, then type 3 dash characters.
10. Choose “Nothing” from the “Follow text with” drop-down list.
11. OK out of the dialog.
12. Repeat steps 3 to 11 with the "indent2", "indent3", "indent4" styles, but
a. Use “Level 2” for the "indent2" style, “Level 3” for the "indent3" style, and “Level 4” for the "indent4" style in the “Edit Style” dialog.
b. When you get to step 9, type 6 dash characters for the "indent2" style, 9 dash characters for the "indent3" style, and 12 dash characters for the "indent4" style.
13. When this is done, select the whole document (or the portion that you want to save), right-click and choose “Save selection as…” from the context menu.
14. In the Save Selection As dialog, choose “Text files (*.txt)” from the “File type” drop-down list.
14. You’ll get a “Warning” dialog. Press the “Yes” button to save as “ANSI Plain Text”.
15. Open the saved text file in a pure text editor.
16. Press Ctrl+H to open its Replace dialog.
17. Check the “Whole words only” option.
18. Replace 3 dashes with 3 space characters.
19. Replace 6 dashes with 6 space characters.
20. Replace 9 dashes with 9 space characters.
21. Replace 12 dashes with 12 space characters.
Your text file should have the same type of indents as the original RTF document.
Note that you can use any (other) appropriate number of space characters in the Replace With box to adjust the length of the resulting indents.
Hope this works for you!
Cheers
Robert