Edit Text Problem in X9

[ADonahoo]

I just started using this today and already have a problem with it. I created a line of text on an image, then decided to change the color of the text. After I got the color changed, there is no check mark to accept the changes, only a "cancel changes" option. I clicked on another layer in the layers palette and that saved my text in the new color but not a very good workaround. I guess I'm naive to think Corel won't break something that works fine with every new upgrade.

[LeviFiction]

I don't have the same issue. When I change colors it 1) Enters Edit mode for the text 2) highlights all of the text and 3) changes the color. Then the accept option is available. Or if I go into Edit mode manually I highlight the text and change the color manually then "accept" is available. So not a consistent bug at least.

You can also just double click anywhere on the canvas to accept the changes.

[ADonahoo]

That's not the only issue with the text tool. I set the font, the size in pixels, the foreground and background colors. Then I ran a script to put text and text effects on multiple images and then the text settings reverted to the default. It took 4 attempts at running the script before the text stayed the way I set them. After I finally got the script to run, I stopped it and changed the font size. When I started the script again, the font size changed back to what it was the first time. At this point, I moved back to X8. I have wasted over an hour on this.

[MarkZ]

The logic of text entry has been changed. To avoid problems follow these steps.

- select the colour, font, font size etc.
- click on the canvas and enter text
- click on the check mark to complete the entry
- for more text, click elsewhere on the canvas where you want the text, change the parameters. The focus point will be lost but just click again and write the next bit of text.
- repeat until all the text has been entered. Do not click on any of the vector layers until entry has been completed.
- to change colour or font for any vector layer, select the layer and click on colour, font etc and the layer properties change.

It is very confusing at first, once you get use to it there are advantages. Also, portions of text can be selected and changed. I tried this and saved and script and was able to run that script.

This is quick, don't have time just now to go into it in more detail.

[ADonahoo]

That's pretty much the way it has always been. I have it working now, not sure what I did to fix it.

[JoeB]

That's pretty much the way it has always been. I have it working now, not sure what I did to fix it.

I tend to agree that this is pretty much how text works in X7 also. But perhaps there is a bit more detail that Mark didn't have time to expand on?? Corel says it is an improved text tool but no real details on how it is improved.

[LeviFiction]

The text tool improvements allow you to edit the fonts, color, size....basically all of the text values of the text object you currently have selected without manually going into edit mode and selecting the text yourself.

1) If you're in Text edit mode, get out of it by either applying all current changes or caneling them.
2) Select a text object in the layers palette. Do not enter text edit mode.
3) With the text tool active, change any of the font settings. You'll be taken directly into text edit mode and your changes effected on all of the text in the object.

It's supposed to be slightly faster.

[JoeB]

I see.

[ADonahoo]

I see too, tested it. It's only faster if you have a preferred color on the swatches; clicking on the background properties is what takes the longest. I timed it at over 40 seconds from the time I clicked on the background, chose a new color from the wheel pressed OK and the text color changed. It only takes a few seconds if you can swap background and foreground, click on a color swatch, then swap back.

[MarkZ]

In previous versions of PSP, when applying text I would most often write a section of text and click on the check when finished. Then, while the completed vector was still selected I would make changes to font, colour etc. for the next section of text and then click on the canvas where I wanted to locate the new text.

I continued with this method (I'd been doing it for years) when testing X9 and ran into great problems. Couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally found out to stay away from earlier vector objects when changing any properties of the text. It seemed to me that the OP was having similar problems to what I had encountered.

[JoeB]

In previous versions of PSP, when applying text I would most often write a section of text and click on the check when finished. Then, while the completed vector was still selected I would make changes to font, colour etc. for the next section of text and then click on the canvas where I wanted to locate the new text.

I continued with this method (I'd been doing it for years) when testing X9 and ran into great problems. Couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally found out to stay away from earlier vector objects when changing any properties of the text. It seemed to me that the OP was having similar problems to what I had encountered.

So, from a practical perspective, can you see any real advantages to the new method?

[ADonahoo]

The only time I ever edit text is when I'm trying to decide which font to use and which color to make it. And I have always used the edit text command from the layers palette. The first time I tried this in X9 there was no check mark to accept the changes. Then it kept reverting back to the default settings; then later it started working correctly. I did try Levi's method of editing text but since you have to click on the layers palette anyway, I don't see that it makes a whole lot of difference. Like I posted above, if you can use a color from the swatches it would be faster.

[LeviFiction]

It's just a different order of operations. Every version prior to X9: Change font settings before adding text or during. And you have to enter text edit mode to change fonts of current items.

Now you have to start your new text before changing the font options and can change any font setting without entering edit mode first. They're trade-offs. Some will find it handy, others not so much. But all in all, it's just a general change that if you use X9 you will have to get used to.

ADonahoo you can use swatches. Just right-click on a swatch to change the fill color.

[ADonahoo]

It's just a different order of operations. Every version prior to X9: Change font settings before adding text or during. And you have to enter text edit mode to change fonts of current items.

Now you have to start your new text before changing the font options and can change any font setting without entering edit mode first. They're trade-offs. Some will find it handy, others not so much. But all in all, it's just a general change that if you use X9 you will have to get used to.

ADonahoo you can use swatches. Just right-click on a swatch to change the fill color.

You don't have to "get used to it"; the edit text function still works like it always has. I just had a glitch to begin with. And yes you can use swatches provided the color you want is there. If not you will have to use the eye dropper, which takes forever in the latest versions of PSP.

[JoeB]

Thanks for the replies. If that's the only change to the text tool then that tool, for one, does not seem to be anything worth considering upgrading for.