Formatting and Editing Text

When typing into some text fields in vFire Core, you can format your text as either Plain Text or HTML, depending on the default format chosen in system settings.

If you are working in Plain Text, you cannot format your text in any special way. The text box is displayed without any formatting buttons or options.

Plain Text is used to specify the description when uploading objects, regardless of whether you are attaching objects to an HTML Knowledge entry or Bulletin Board item. When working with knowledge entries, plain text makes extensive use of knowledge article templates in which elements such as question, synopsis and answer are entered into fields. vFire Core then applies its own rules to render the article based on these fields.

If you are working in HTML format, a formatting toolbar will appear above the description and message text area.

The following buttons are available, although they may vary depending on the task you are performing. Depending on the size of the text box, you may need to scroll across to see some of them.

Button(s) Action

Font and font size

Bold, italic and underline

Aligns the text

Background color to highlight the text

Font color

Clears the formatting and resets to default

Numbered and bulleted lists

Decreases or increases the indent of the paragraph.

Converts the selected text into a hyperlink.

Inserts an image into the text field. You will be prompted to navigate to the required file. The maximum size of an image you can insert is defined in the System Settings.

Inserts a table. You can format the table after it has been inserted if you wish

Inserts a horizontal line
Displays the text area in its own window. To return to the original window, select OK
Right click Displays a menu with further formatting options, as well as the option to undo your last action

If you run a spell check, any formatting that you have added to the text may be removed. This is due to Microsoft Word adding its own formatting when it opens a HTML file. This effect will be minimized on systems that have Microsoft Word 2003 or later installed.

Inserting a Hyperlink

You can insert hyperlinks into HTML text areas that point to external websites.

  1. Select the text you wish to set as a hyperlink.
  2. Select . The Hyperlink window opens.
  3. In the URL field, type the address to which the hyperlink will point.
  4. In the Target list, choose where the website will open when you select the link. Select “vFire Core” (this currently says Service Manager) to open the website within the vFire Core application or “New Window” to open the website in a new browser window.
  5. If you would like to test the hyperlink you have specified, select Test.
  6. Select OK to insert the hyperlink.

If you use to add a file link and the file location has a space in the path (i.e. a folder name or document has a space between two words), the link may display incorrectly, with additional text after the link. This is a known limitation due to an issue with Internet Explorer. If you insert a link in this way, ensure that your file location does not include a space, or delete the additional text.

Inserting an Image

You can insert images into HTML text areas.

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the image and select the button . The Add Image window opens.
  2. Locate and select the required image.

  3. The maximum size of an image you can insert is defined in the System Settings.

  4. Select OK to insert it.

  5. You can delete an image by selecting it and then pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.

Inserting a Table

You can insert tables into HTML text areas.

  1. Position the cursor where you want to insert the table and select the button . The Add Table window opens.
  2. Select the number of Columns and Rows and specify the table layout and border, if wanted.
  3. Select OK to insert the table.

Formatting a Table

You can modify the table size, layout and border.

  1. Select the arrow next to the Table button . The drop down menu offers you the following options.

    2. Property

    Description

    Table Properties

    This displays a window in which you can set the following:

    Table Size Table Size (number of rows and columns)

    Table Layout (space between cells, the gap between the text and the edges of the cell, and the width of cells)

    Table border (the thickness, color and style of the border)

    Cell Properties The number of rows and columns the current cell stretches across

    Its vertical and horizontal alignment

    The color of its border

    Whether text within the cell wraps onto the next line or stays on a single line

    Insert Column Before

    Insert a column to the left of the current one

    Insert Column After

    Insert a column to the right of the current one

    Insert Row Above

    Insert a row above the current one

    Insert Row Below

    Insert a row below the current one

    Move Row Up

    Move the row in which the cursor is positioned up in the table

    Move Row Down

    Move the row in which the cursor is positioned down in the table

    Delete Column

    Delete the column in which the cursor is positioned

    You will not receive a Confirmation request or be able to undo this action.

    Delete Row

    Delete the row in which the cursor is positioned

    You will not receive a Confirmation request or be able to undo this action.

  2. Select OK to save your changes.

Microsoft Word tables copied into the HTML editor will remain as tables. However they may lose some formatting when copied back into Microsoft Word.

Inserting Items from HTML

You should note the following if you are inserting items from HTML, or copying items from your email, bulletin or knowledge entry elsewhere:

  • When HTML content from a document, email, or web page is pasted into an HTML text area some information is removed from the content. This information includes scripts, objects, applets, absolute positioning, and input elements.

  • The HTML editor will not have the same breadth of functionality as Microsoft Word editor, so some formatting may not persist when copied to and from one editor to another. Some examples are:
    • Microsoft Word tables copied into the HTML editor will remain as tables. However they may lose some formatting when copied back into Microsoft Word.
    • Microsoft Word diagrams and charts copied into the HTML editor will be converted into images. This means that individual shapes of the diagrams or charts will not be editable in the HTML editor.
    • Microsoft Word data copied into the HTML editor and then copied back into Microsoft Word may lose some formatting.
    • Scripts, active controls, applets and other advanced web features will be removed or altered when copied into the HTML editor.