Formating text in "MAIL" and "PAGES"

Question

Formating text in "MAIL" and "PAGES"

When either writing an email or composing on 'pages' [which by the way, I purchased online from Apple after I got the computer], I do wish there was a format painter [WORD language]. Especially [in email composing] the font name and type size do not show up on screen. Most of all in a document, I would like to be able to click on a part of a paragraph and then copy all formatting to another existing paragraph within the same document. Can you help me on both issues?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Jan 17, 2008 11:59 AM

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Answer 1

GfulDedFan

Level 4

3,315 points

Jan 17, 2008 12:31 PM in response to Jeremy Jordan1

In Apple Mail, you can Show Font from the Format Menu in the Menu Bar or hit command-t. You also have the ability to copy and paste text.

In Pages, you merely bring up the Inspector (Show Inspector from the View Menu in the Menu Bar) to adjust Font and a lot more.

Both Show Font in Apple Mail and Show Inspector in Pages can be buttons on the Tool Bar for your convenience. You can customize the Tool Bar by right clicking (cntrl-click) the Tool Bar and selecting Customize.

Hope this helps -GDF

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Answer 2

Jan 17, 2008 1:15 PM in response to GfulDedFan

Thanks for a quick reply. However, I am quite confused. Perhaps if I re-state the problem as follows:

In MAIL or PAGES, composing a message or document, I need a way to copy formatting from one paragraph to another and I do not even need to especially know what the font of font size is, just a way to format a paragraph to be the same as any particular paragraph I choose.
Here is where the situation arises. I may copy text from another source which has many different formats or a format I do not like, so I may format a paragraph or even a portion of a paragraph. Next I want to use that format for other portions of the document or email message.
In WINDOWS, my word processor is also used for email, so all I need to do is highlight a portion of text and use the 'format painter' to apply that format to any other area. As I said, it is really of no importance what the font is or the like, just to duplicate it wherever I wish. I have to say that MS WORD is superb in that respect. I just want to perform the same elegant way in MAIL and in PAGES. Actually this capability should be available in NUMBERS. I look for any assistance.

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Answer 3

medren2

Level 1

6 points

Mar 25, 2008 1:57 PM in response to Jeremy Jordan1

Hello Chivato:
I am a user, not a registered Mac wizard, but I am searching for the same solution you are. I agree with you 1000% (not a typo) that MS Word AND Publisher both have the function called Format Painter. If I understand your email correctly, you want to be able to set things like font, size, color, left/center/right text position, regular/bold/Italics, etc, etc. Then when you move from one (Pages) text box to a new one, all you need to do is click inside the text box and the formatting you chose from the previous box will be re-created inside the new one, correct? I'm making titles for a bunch of slides in a slideshow and I need that formatting function, otherwise I'll be wasting a lot of time doing it manually. I hope someone responds to your/our dilemma.
Thanks,
Medren

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Answer 4

medren2

Level 1

6 points

Mar 25, 2008 2:33 PM in response to Jeremy Jordan1

Hello Chivato, again:
I just posted a reply to your email of 17 January, and then tried something on my own, and it works. So, I am passing it on to you:
In Pages, I typed a couple sentences into a text box. Then I highlighted the whole block of text and selected a new font, point size, Italic bold, center position, and color. Then I clicked in Format on the menu bar, clicked "copy paragraph style," opened a new text box and typed in a different line of text. Then I clicked on the text box outline so that the guide boxes appeared, then clicked in Format again and clicked "paste paragraph style." The text in the second box changed immediately to all the features I had selected in the first box.
I hope this helps you, too. Good luck.
Medren

Message was edited by: medren

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