AutoFormat > Smart Quotes and Preferences > Check Spelling as you Type : Won't work in older files

[michael.ullyot]

1. Why won't the AutoFormat > 'replace straight quotes with smart
quotes' option work in my older files? The only way I can get them to
display smart quotes is to find and replace all quotes, which
shouldn't be necessary. In new files there's no issue.

2. I have the same problem with Preferences > Check Spelling as you
Type setting in these files.

Thanks,
Michael U.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Michael -

To clarify what is an understandable misconception - AutoFormat doesn't
automatically reformat *any* document unless you select one of the available
AutoFormat Styles & apply it to your doc. Then it changes whatever is
dictated by the settings in the AutoFormat dialog. Likewise, AutoFormat As
You Type doesn't impose any of its settings on an existing doc when you open
it, either.

I don't understand what you mean about the spelling feature, though. It
works in a completely unrelated manner & there are other issues - such as
language settings - that could be involved. How about a fuller description
of of the problem, what you expect, what happens/doesn't happen, etc. It
would also be helpful if you'd (always) specify what version of the program
& OS you're using.

 

[Clive Huggan]

Michael,

Further to what Bob says, you can change all straight quotes to curly in a
document in 10 seconds flat, just with these keystrokes in succession:

Command-Shift-h [brings up the Search and Replace window]
" [puts double quotation mark in the upper box]
Hit tab key once [moves to lower box]
" [puts double quotation mark in the lower box]
Command-a [activates the "Replace All" button]
Return key [activates the "OK" button]
Command-w [closes the window]

Of course, it would be easy to do it with a macro. So far I haven't got
around to it, although I do this often.

I suspect one Elliott Roper, guru in the arcane art of Mouselessness in this
discussion group, will *swoon* with empathy when he reads the above. ;-)

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
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