Darren Freeman wrote:
Ummm... then LyX users are used to LyX behaving differently to most
other apps :)
Correct. Of course, that don't mean the LyX way is the best way
everytime. But changing just to "be like others" isn't popular.
The change had better be an improvement on its own. LyX has
an existing userbase, they don't like change for no reason.
Try MS Word or OpenOffice.. pretty much pick a mainstream editor of some
kind and it does what I'm suggesting.
I don't use those - mainstream editors are too bad at typesetting.
How else do you stop people from accidentally toggling the state of
their punctuation and not noticing?
My experience is that this rarely happens in practice. Bold isn't
something you use much anyway. It is mostly for headings, which are
bold by default. And an italic period isn't different from upright.
I have occationally corrected the italic state on commas, but
there were usually more than the comma to correct. Commas
are visibly different, so there is no problem with this.
If you select more than you
intended, most apps first synchronise the state of the chars in the
selection. If you got it wrong the first time you press it again.
The idea is interesting.
The big question is - which way is most efficient for the users
_once they learn it_. We're not afraid of being different or of
having a learning curve - if that makes LyX a better tool for those
who know how to use it. The "first timer" experience is less
important and shouldn't get in the way of the regular user.
Helge Hafting
