"Application not responding" when switching

[treo]

I have imported RTF files into Scrivener (still can't get txt files in even with extension switched on) which is fine. When I try to switch to Storyboard view to play with the synopses the program hangs.

I have forty separate documents in Draft amounting to about 65K words if this matters

[KB]

This is strange... Could you send me your crashlog?

Why can't you get .txt files in? You should just be able to drag them in or import them... I cannot reproduce this - .txt files import fine for me.

Could you please describe the steps to reproduce your problem? Exactly what did you do before trying to switch to Storyboard mode? Are you using version 0.2.0b that was release last week?

It should not matter how many words or documents have. I would really appreciate more info so that I can track this down.

Many thanks,
Keith

[treo]

I'm using Version 0.2.0b

I'm not sure how to get the crashlog. The application doesn't crash, I just get the spinning ball and have to force quit.

I have reproduced this several times by deleting all the imported files and doing it again.

My steps are thus:

1. Import the separate files (exported from Ulysses) all in one go.
2. Switch to Storyboard view by clicking on the icon. The icon is highlighted then I get the spinning ball.
3. Wait for ages in case something happens then have to force quit.


In terms of the txt import I just get a funny code [þÿ] as text although the document title and the start of the text is imported into the synopsis card. I can reproduce this everytime I try it.

I will experiment with the various text export settings in Ulysses as I have tried creating a new text file in Textedit and imported it into Scrivener just fine.

Regards

[KB]

Hmm... I just cannot reproduce this...

As for the text file, it might be an encoding thing.

How are you importing the files? Are you in Binder mode, Draft mode, what? Are you dragging the files in, or going through the menu? Which folder are you trying to import them into? Is it the Draft folder, the Research folder, what? All the information that you can give me will help - as detailed as possible.

Something that might help: would you mind sending the the files you are trying to import, along with a text file that is causing you problems, at [e-mail]? I know this is a big ask as it is no doubt material that is personal to you as yet (though obviously if you are able to get some "dummy" files to do the same, that would be ideal). I would of course use them for nothing more than tracking the bug and delete them as soon as it is found.

Thanks,
Keith

[treo]

I have tried dragging the files in, and voila, Storyboard works; I'd used 'files import' menu before. I then deleted them all and reimported them using the menu and that then worked, so I don't know what was going on!

Regarding the text import: I re-exported my files from Ulysses setting the encoding to Macintosh rather than Unicode, and that worked, although it has lost all my quotes and apostrophes, so it is something about the coding.

On a more general point of feedback: I agree with what you have said elsewhere about it becoming too bloated. In my day job I manage IT projects and it always tempting to include things because you can do them rather than because they are needed! For instance, in Storyboard view (which in itself is useful), there are two views of the cards (right and bottom) and that confuses me. Draft mode may also be unnecessary, sort of half way between just Binder view and Fullscreen.

Another thing that would be useful (it is not in Ulysses at the mo, and they are silent about it when I ask) is the ability ot hi-light searched words within documents. Although it is useful to display the documents that contain the searched word, it would be more useful to know where they are in the document. Perhaps this is not possible?

Regards

[KB]

Thanks for the extra info... This worries me, as it makes it very hard to track down what was happening in the earlier case. I will do some extra tests, but if you get it happening again, please let me know as I do really want to track it down.

Regarding highlighting searched words: I had put this on the "to do" list, but I am taking it off for 1.0. The reason is this: It _is_ possible to highlight searched words, but that means changing the text attributes to add a highlight. Obviously, you don't want these attributes to be permanent. The way DevonThink have got around this is by making the text view with the highlighted search words read-only. I don't think that's so great. The best solution I have seen is in Xcode. That doesn't highlight words; instead, it shows an outline table with the name of each document, and below it, the search word in context. So, say you searched on "marine", you might get:

NewDocument1
...and the *marine* life in that area was particularly rich, or...
... and *marine* mammals are particularly...
AnimalsDocument
...the houses in that area were all an aqua-*marine* colour...

Clicking on a line would take you to that part in the document. So this is how I would like to do it if I do implement it. The reason I won't be implementing it for 1.0 is that I believe at this point in time it would be bloat, or at least adding a nicety when there is more basic work to be done. At the moment, you can perform a search via the toolbar, then just click on the document in the search table to go to the document, hit Cmd-F and find the word you are looking for within the document yourself. All a search table would provide is a slightly faster way of doing this, which is why I don't think it is urgent...

For instance, in Storyboard view (which in itself is useful), there are two views of the cards (right and bottom) and that confuses me.

This may not be obviously useful at first, but I find it crucial. If you didn't have two views, you wouldn't be able to drag a file from one group into another group in Storyboard mode. Think of it as being similar to the way iMovie works: you open your source files in the top view, and then drag them into the bottom view, ordering and arranging them there. The bottom view is very much intended to be used as a storyboard...

Thanks,
Keith

[treo]

Well, I didn't know about the find command within the document (although it is obvious now) so thanks for that! I think the Xcode solution would be most elegant.

The spinning ball still happens in my original import, which I've saved as a separate Scrivener file. I would send it to you but it holds my 'precious' 2nd novel which even my wife and agent have yet to see! It could be any number of factors, I sometimes have many programs open at the same time and it seems that today i can no longer reproduce it anyway, so perhaps our time would be better spent writing!

I now understand the rationale for the Storyboard layout. If this is the case then perhaps the lower window should show a lot smaller cards, just showing the title and synopsis when you hover over each one?

[KB]

I now understand the rationale for the Storyboard layout. If this is the case then perhaps the lower window should show a lot smaller cards, just showing the title and synopsis when you hover over each one?.

In the next version, Storyboard mode will look a little different. You will no longer have a text view there. Instead, there will be an outline view on the left, with the two storyboard views on the right. You will also be able to change the height or hide the bottom view...

I quite understand why you wouldn't want to send me your novel; I don't think I would, either. I would be grateful if you could try to reproduce it in such a way that it will hang every time, though, so that I could get to the bottom of it. If you can't, I'm sure it will come to the fore in the future anyway, and I try to investigate it anyhow.

All the best,
Keith