Overhaul the editor so that it is in the same style as the final article, esp. regarding font and formatting (real time preview) | World Anvil

Overhaul the editor so that it is in the same style as the final article, esp. regarding font and formatting (real time preview)


Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Go back to the Voting Board

Overhaul the editor so that it is in the same style as the final article, esp. regarding font and formatting (real time preview)

User Interface (UI) / User Experience (UX) · Editor: plato · Created by [email protected]
closed
Editor Edit text images Plato WYSIWYG real-time preview Font Format Word UI UX end-result

What functionality is missing? What is unsatisfying with the current situation?

One very big downside to using WorldAnvil is that none of the text editors show how the article really looks like in the end. The entire Edit mode (by that I mean everything in the menu to the left, from Dashboard to Manuscripts) is disconnected from the end result and that is what breaks immersion and inspiration. The sterile gray Edit mode feels like you are not in the world you are trying to create. It is very arduous to switch back and forth to assure that your article looks right. But it doesn't have to be this way.

How does this feature request address the current situation?

This is why I wish that WA would solve this kind of like Fandom, where the Edit mode is in the same style as the article and your entire Wiki. What I propose is a new text editor that is actually WYSIWYG. Because let's be honest, Plato is not really that. The font used in the Plato editor is not the same as the end result and background images, as well as sidebars are not directly visible where they're supposed to be. The new editor would have a new UI in the style of your world. Font and formatting would look the same as in the final article and it would also have a corresponding background image. This would make creating articles so much more intuitive and motivating. Because, I just want to create articles. I don't want to spend all my time learning BBCode or finicking around with what font looks best or what line spacement I should use. You'd save a lot of time and nerves if you can directly see your end result rather than being dissatisfied in the end because it doesn't look how you imagined. Ans thus you can create more awesome articles and worlds in less amount of time.

What are other uses for this feature request?

Furthermore, if you add elements like sidebars and images, they should also preview in the editor just how they are in the end result with their correct alignment. Images are particularly tedious. It would be huge if the editor was a bit more like Word or InDesign in that regard, where you can change an image's size by dragging transform handles. But this is more of a bonus. The most important feature for me right now would be that font and format can be seen in real time. Of course I understand that this is a big feature request, however this would be a tremendous improvement to the WorldAnvil experience. And I'm positive that if the editor is more intuitive, a lot more people will consider using WorldAnvil.

The Team's Response

The WISYWYG will be updated and recreated from the ground up - but what is being asked above at large is not possible for a variety of reasons. Even tools designed for the purpose described above (like fairly wide know blogging or website automation software) is not able to do that.
Login to Vote
Current score

73/300 Votes · +14710 points

Votes Cast

  • +300

    by HouseOfWonders
    on 2022-05-03 15:32

  • +300

    by BunnyMoss
    on 2022-05-03 15:16

  • +200

    by ThePharaoh
    on 2022-05-03 13:54

  • +300

    by A Rambunctious Dwarf
    on 2022-05-03 13:40

  • +100

    by Nekith
    on 2022-05-03 13:21

  • +200

    by DarthGaymer
    on 2022-05-03 13:00

  • +300

    by Tobus
    on 2022-05-03 02:04

  • +100

    by Rachel Cornelius
    on 2022-05-02 21:34

  • +300

    by Cheeky_witch
    on 2022-05-02 21:00

  • +100

    by scholarmage
    on 2022-05-02 15:43

  • +20

    by A Revolutionary Hobbit
    on 2022-05-02 12:06

  • +300

    by Sweedstone
    on 2022-05-02 11:43

  • +300

    by Rozial
    on 2022-05-02 01:28

  • +50

    by tehkensai
    on 2022-05-01 22:25

  • +300

    by gvman99
    on 2022-05-01 03:37

  • +300

    by TimZube
    on 2022-04-30 23:15

  • +10

    by Anthraxus
    on 2022-04-29 13:10
    At the very least it would be great if the View button opened a new window instead of leaving the editor to see the article.

  • +300

    by CalebStrange
    on 2022-04-29 02:17

  • +100

    by A Glamorous Bananafolk
    on 2022-04-28 16:05

  • +200

    by GoldenEclipse13
    on 2022-04-27 03:39

  • -100

    by Wierdalien1
    on 2022-04-26 22:46

  • +300

    by Rieliesza
    on 2022-04-26 16:08

  • +300

    by SadSnaccRobot
    on 2022-04-26 11:18

  • +50

    by SliceOfLuck
    on 2022-04-26 07:02

  • +300

    by Teknomancer
    on 2022-04-25 21:24

  • +300

    by Arimel
    on 2022-04-24 16:50

  • +200

    by catlandia
    on 2022-04-24 12:49

  • +50

    by Cyric
    on 2022-04-24 11:03

  • +300

    by Pingu_sAge
    on 2022-04-23 20:43

  • +300

    by KatarinaP
    on 2022-04-22 16:13

  • -20

    by A Beloved Elf
    on 2022-04-21 22:39

  • +300

    by CptDzastr
    on 2022-04-21 14:59
    As it sets I keep a separate tab on a separate monitor open with the article I'm working on so I can kludge my way into having this kind of functionality via manual refresh. I think having this built in would reduce the effort I put in to making content by a noticeable degree.

  • +300

    by ItsGimik
    on 2022-04-21 14:44

  • +300

    by Pyromantiic
    on 2022-04-21 04:22

  • +300

    by The Speaker
    on 2022-04-20 17:57

  • +300

    by Exarx
    on 2022-04-20 10:54

  • +300

    by A Filthy Dwarf
    on 2022-04-19 23:01

  • +300

    by RionMarco
    on 2022-04-19 05:59

  • +50

    by frigid_lich_dnd
    on 2022-04-19 00:48

  • +300

    by JpgPngExe
    on 2022-04-18 23:12

  • +300

    by FireAtWill
    on 2022-04-18 17:55

  • -300

    by A Goodhearted Skeleton
    on 2022-04-18 15:22
    i like the dark background for writing the lighter backgrounds that are better for reading. I would not be able to work on something for very long due to eyestrain

  • +300

    by A Roaring Unicorn
    on 2022-04-18 10:01

  • +300

    by dragonshadow58
    on 2022-04-17 21:13

  • +300

    by CrypticAgent
    on 2022-04-17 04:54

  • -300

    by Fluttercrunk
    on 2022-04-16 21:53

  • +100

    by dragonshardz
    on 2022-04-16 08:24

  • +300

    by Max Hopper
    on 2022-04-15 22:35

  • +300

    by thenobodynoo
    on 2022-04-15 21:24

  • +300

    by DaisyChick
    on 2022-04-15 20:41

  • +300

    by A Lusty Orc
    on 2022-04-15 14:35

  • +300

    by Semjax
    on 2022-04-14 22:26
    This would make things a lot easier!

  • +300

    by NiahNiah
    on 2022-04-14 21:59

  • +300

    by insanityscribe
    on 2022-04-14 15:01

  • -300

    by kitoypoy
    on 2022-04-14 14:35
    FWIW, I don't use Plato myself. So this change would have zero impact for me and seems like the amount of development time this would require would turn WorldAnvil from a worldbuilding team into a BBCode WYSIWYG team. For me it's out of the scope of the tool and I'd rather they work on other things. YMMV.

  • +50

    by Exaldear
    on 2022-04-14 13:10

  • +300

    by Balrog
    on 2022-04-14 02:27

  • +300

    by Gaggle of GMs
    on 2022-04-13 20:27

  • +200

    by amelianite
    on 2022-04-13 18:22

  • +300

    by lliraeden
    on 2022-04-13 13:40
    100% agree. As a new user I have found it is grossly unintuitive and is a significant barrier to designing what I really want. I don't want to have to lern an entire coding style just to get articles to look perfect!

  • +200

    by A Fierce Dwarf
    on 2022-04-13 11:01

  • +300

    by A Sneaky T-Rex
    on 2022-04-13 06:28

  • +300

    by Snuggly_wuggums
    on 2022-04-13 04:25
    THis sort of thing is exactly what I'm honestly waiting for. It would go a long way, leaps and bounds, to helping my workflow. I really struggle to visualize the outcome of any of the editors and then making it work while flipping back and forth a few dozen times while writing, etc.   It all just really disrupts my ability to write coherently because I'm having to try to think like a programmer, not a writer, to get anything to look decent.

  • -300

    by HidcoteBlue
    on 2022-04-13 01:42
    I would also love to see this feature implemented. The current editor is very visually clunky, and I’ve had continuous problems with line and paragraph spacing thanks to the ancient code-based formatting.   This feature would be a great addition that removes the arduous process of back and forth viewing and tweaking.

  • +300

    by skullheadsoldiers
    on 2022-04-12 21:48

  • +300

    by Nugget909
    on 2022-04-12 21:27

  • +200

    by LanternLight
    on 2022-04-12 20:44
    Well explained and fixes many of my same problems.

  • +50

    by blurrito
    on 2022-04-12 18:41

  • +300

    by TazztheMonster
    on 2022-04-12 18:20

  • +300

    by Rayna Fairbell
    on 2022-04-12 18:03
    What VariableX said. I don't believe convenience is a priority, if it will ever be, but I still want to support this. I've pretty much learned how to deal with the code, but since bad UX is one of the reasons mentioned most against WA I bet a lot more people would consider getting into it. Also, I definitely wouldn't mind myself if refreshing the preview page a couple dozen times before I get the page to look like I want to would become a thing of the past :')

  • -300

    by A Fierce Bananafolk
    on 2022-04-12 17:44

  • +300

    by VariableX
    on 2022-04-12 16:50
    I doubt that this will happen, but it would be wonderful. I've seen a lot of comments lately from frustrated users who are intimidated by/don't want to have to learn BBCode and CSS to get things looking nice. (I quit WA for awhile myself because I was sick of having to wrangle the code with my left-brain when my right-brain just wanted to make content.)

  • +300

    by arollinson
    on 2022-04-12 13:30

  • +300

    by [email protected]
    on 2022-04-12 10:58

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies

Dungeon Fog
Gold Ennie 2019 for Best Digital Aid
by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.009 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 03:04, May 6 2024