AD: Keyboard shortuct to edit selected text

[Lojza]

Hi,

 

In previous verisons of Designer, it was possible to select a text object and press "T" to start editing. Now, the "T" shortcut cycles betweent Artistic Text and Frame Text tools but does not start editing.

 

Am I missign something? Is there still a possibility to trigger text editing via a key or key combination? So far, the only remaining option is double click on the selected text object.

 

Thanks for help :)

[Dave Harris]

This happens after you have hit Escape when editing text. You get the text object selected, but without a blinking edit caret. If you then select a different tool, and back to the Text tool, the Text tool stays in this state. To get the caret back, click in a text object with the Text tool. You don't need to double-click with this tool.

 

This non-editing state of the Text tool can be useful because normal tool shortcuts work in it. For example, V toggles the Move tool, and then back to the Text tool. This behaviour for Escape is fairly new, and there may be some unwanted ramifications that still need to be resolved. However, we wouldn't want to automatically go into text edit mode when the Text tool is (re-)selected, because that would prevent the V toggle from working (it'd just inset a V into the text instead).

[Lojza]

Hi Dave, thanks for your response.

 

The text in the selected, but not editable state is not only when I hit Escape after edit (by the way, is there another way how to end editing on with keyboard?), but whenever I select the text with the "V" tool or selecting the object in Layers pane.

 

I guess I'm happy with how Escape works. But still I don't understand the rationale behind why hitting "T" on the text object won't show the caret and start editing. It seems like Designer does not actually respond to keystrokes, but rather to tool change. I understand that hitting "V" twice shouldn't start editing the text (only text tool should become active), but when considering hitting "T" instead of "V", this could quite easily bring the caret and start editing without losing the possibility to use "V" instead... I hope I'm clear ;)

 

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to the release with customizable key shortcuts. Hitting F2 or simply Enter to start editing the text would resolve all the issues for me ;)

[Dave Harris]

You're right: using the Layers tab also sets this mode, even if the Text tool is active. I hadn't been aware of that, and I doubt it's intentional. I'll have a look at changing it.

 

You're also right about the Move tool, but that is intentional. The Move tool is so that you can move objects without accidentally selecting text in them, or making a new object or changing nodes. The Text tools are the only tools that create and edit text.

 

Hitting T usually does show the text caret. If it doesn't, it usually means you hit Escape previously (or used the Layers tab to select, which as I say I'll look into changing).

[Lojza]

Oh guys, these keyboard shortcuts really drive me mad.

 

Please, pretty, pretty please with sugar on top, implement at least following in the next beta:

• when an artistic text is selected (no matter which way), the "T" shortcut (or "Shift+T" or "F2" or whatever else if you insist on "T" should cycle between tools) shows the carret and starts editing no matter what tool is active at the moment
• when an artistic text editing is finished and user hits escape, the tool that was active before the editing started, should become active again
• when an artistic text editing is finished and user clicks outside the text boundaries, the tool that was active before the editing started, should become active again and NO NEW artistic text editing should be initiated

I'll try to explain, why current behavior is mighty frustrating for me.

 

Mental / work flow one:

1. Several artistic text elements are placed on canvas.
2. Move tool is active, I'm adjusting the layout of the text boxes.
3. One of the text needs editing - the fastest way is double click, carret appears.
4. Text is being edited, then I hit ESC.
5. Now the previously active Move tool is unexpectedly gone, I can't continue layout work unless hitting "V".

 

Mental / work flow two:

1. Several artistic text elements are placed on canvas.
2. Move tool is active, I'm adjusting the layout of the text boxes.
3. One of the text needs editing - the fastest way is double click, carret appears.
4. Text is being edited, then I click outside the box to finish editing.
5. Now the next artistic text is created and carret appears. I have to hit ESC and then "V" to get back to the expected (previous) state.

When those flows get combined with the fact that some artistic text elements are hard to select with mouse click (it happens quite often when I click between the characters), editing simple infographic becomes a total pain...

 

Please let me know should I move this to feature requests.