What's in your dream text editor?

[Evan]

Hey everyone,

We're in the early stages of working on a revamped text editor. If that sounds familiar, it's because we recently rolled out a new text editor your Ning Network's blogs and forum discussions:

However, it became clear the text editor we implemented had a lot of limitations, namely that it doesn't handle text as well as it should (both text that's written in the editor and text pasted in) and it's very difficult to add buttons to "HTML" mode.

We're looking at starting fresh, with a new editor, instead of continuing to customize and debug the current one. We want to hear from you — what do you want in a text editor? What's important to you? What buttons or tools do you rely on, of those that are there today and those that aren't.

This project may take a while, but we want to get your input now while we're in the planning phase.

Thanks!
Evan

[Evan]

Hey Capri!

Similar to what we have today, with a choice between Rich View and HTML?

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Evan]

Hey Capri!

So you've made it clear that you've like to continue using HTML mode to edit your text as you can today (though today there are no buttons in HTML mode). What tools would you like to have in HTML mode?

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Evan]

Hey JP!

That's exactly what I'm doing. But there's more we need to do than just looking around at others editors.

I started this discussion because I want to know what exactly you would want in your text editor — so let me know!

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Janettee McCrary]

JP you beat me to it:) I like that one as well, but when I'm working in Creators or my own site, it's a bit inconvenient to have to have her site open as well.

[Zohra]

YEAH i love this editor, i think we need a good WYSIWYG editor like this.

I love the fact that i can just copy and paste content as it is... so it automatically takes the look and style of the content i am copying!

[Evan]

Hey Ayla!

So which of those buttons or tools are most important? Anything missing from your screenshots that you'd like to see?

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Janettee McCrary]

I really like being able to change color/font size without html, as well:)

[Mini Me]

love Ayla's idea!!!

[Farah]

hi we really needs two important things

1# SMILES

cuz people like to express if they are joking or upset or any thing and its make people

2# BIG LINES
many of my websites complaint that they can't reed the words cuz its very small , although the blogs have the abilities to change the words sizes



thanks

[Evan]

Hey Leo!

Thanks for pointing me to Gmail. I've used it a lot, and it's definitely a solid editor. It's lacking the ability to edit HTML of things you've added (one of the biggest gaps for me), but it's simple. I definitely want your next generation editor to be able to better handle pasted text, both in terms of:

- Properly showing the content that's been pasted, where today it doesn't always show up correctly
- Possibly adding a "Add text" button, where people can paste in text and then we'll strip the excess formatting/code for them

Embedding a video is also a key addition.

/Evan
Ning Product Manager

[Thiago Santos de Moraes]

Evan, for networks that focus on serious texts (in the case of mine, texts of philosophy and theology), the "justify" option in the editor and the use of color would be most essential. Otherwise, the ability to put HTML codes without going to another tab is the only change that I desire. The rest is perfect.

I like the Blogger old editor (but the the order of the tabs should be reversed, first "compose", then "HTML").

[Evan]

Hey Thiago!

What kind of HTML codes are you trying to add that you have to switch tabs for today?

/Evan
Ning Product Manager