Editing the Source Text

To enter your own report source text, or edit existing report source text, you will need to be familiar with a text editor or word-processor which can create ASCII or ANSI text files. You will also need to understand the layout and syntax requirements of Source files - see Input File Layout for an explanation of the source text file requirements.

Note: If you are just starting out editing source text, it may be helpful to read Editing and Creating Source Text and Creating a Copy of an Existing Report for background information on Solar Writer's report system itself, and how it all works. This isn't necessary to edit the source text, it is only if you want a wider understanding that it could be helpful.

If you edit the text files from within Solar Writer, then Windows WordPad is used to edit the text. You may also use any other word processor or text editor of your choice, if you prefer, by starting it up separately from Solar Writer, and editing the required text file(s).

>> To edit the source text from within Solar Writer

1.In the Report menu click Compile

2.Enter the name of the Source Text Definition File, or click on the Browse button to locate the required file using a standard file dialog.

3.Click on Edit Text to start WordPad.

Note: All Source (text) files must always be saved as plain TEXT files, and NOT as MS Word format or RTF format files, for example. If you save your Source files in any of these non-text formats, then the compiler will be unable to compile the text successfully, and you will have to re save the Source files as plain text files before it will work correctly again.

Note: The Source files that are supplied with Solar Writer contain the entire text in a single text file. However, it is possible to split the text up into separate files if desired, by using the ‘#include’ directive to point to the other files from the main Source file. If you do this, then you will need to take responsibility for ensuring that all the other Source text files are correctly edited and saved.

Changes you have made to the source text will not be displayed in a report until you have compiled the report. If you are making your changes from within Solar Writer, then once you have finished making the changes, simply click the Compile button in the "Text Compiler" dialog box. If you are making your changes from outside Solar Writer see Compiling for information on compiling your Source file.