Introduction to Using Text

TFE
Plain Text*
HTML*

Other Considerations for Creating Text
Attach Files
Embed Media
MS Word
MS Office Suite
Non-English Keyboard
Spell Check
Smart Quotes

* not available in conferences and private messaging Here's why
 

What happened to my text?
If you embed websites in any text box in WebTycho, then anyone using Internet Explorer will see a blank page when they open your conference note, assignment or other text. This is because IE's security does not allow cross-browser scripting.  Firefox users will not have this problem.   Instead of embedding websites, you can link to a website or use the Advanced TFE to achieve complex text formatting.

Disable Smart Quotes (Curly Quotes) and Hyphens in Microsoft Word

The Plain Text Box may not display special characters that are copied from some software programs such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Dreamweaver. Even if you do not manually type special characters yourself, your software program may insert them with auto formatting.  Because Microsoft Word is widely used by our faculty and students we have included instructions here.  For other programs, please consult manufacturer's documentation.

Note that the process described below applies only for new documents.  Quotes and hyphens must be manually removed from existing documents.

Microsoft Word for Windows

1. Select Tools
2. Select Auto Correct Options from the list
3. Select the tab AutoFormat as you Type
4. Uncheck the box next to "Hyphens (--) with dash (-)"
5. Click Ok
6. Close MS Word XP
7. Reopen and create a new document

Microsoft Word for Macintosh (version 6 of AppleWorks)

1. Select Edit
2. Select Preferences
3. Select General
4. Uncheck Smart Quotes in the dialogue box that appears. Note that this will not remove from documents that already contain them.

Before you type, remove the checkmarks and click OK.