Another round of edits to the main README

This commit is contained in:
Veronica K. B. Olsen
2021-04-25 18:18:36 +02:00
parent 70425c77ea
commit efef172658
+25 -25
View File
@@ -21,23 +21,23 @@ for comments, synopsis, and cross-referencing. It's designed to be a simple text
for easy organisation of text and notes, using human readable text files as storage for robustness. for easy organisation of text and notes, using human readable text files as storage for robustness.
The project storage is suitable for version control software, and also well suited for file The project storage is suitable for version control software, and also well suited for file
synchronisation tools. All text is saved as plain text files with a meta data header. The core synchronisation tools. All text is saved as plain text files with a meta data header, the core
project structure is stored in a single project XML file. Other meta data is primarily saved in project structure is stored in a single project XML file, and other meta data is primarily saved as
JSON files. JSON files.
The full documentation is available on [readthedocs.io](https://novelwriter.readthedocs.io). The full documentation is available on [readthedocs.io](https://novelwriter.readthedocs.io).
## Implementation ## Implementation
The application is written in Python 3 using Qt5 and PyQt5. It is developed on Linux, but it should The application is written in Python 3 (3.6+) using Qt5 and PyQt5 (5.3+). It is developed on Linux,
in principle work fine on other operating systems as well, as long as dependencies are met. It is but should in principle work fine on other operating systems as well as long as dependencies are
regularly tested on Ubuntu Linux, Windows, and macOS. met. It is regularly tested on Debian and Ubuntu Linux, Windows, and macOS.
## Project Contributions ## Project Contributions
Contributions to this project are welcome. However, please read the Contributions to this project are welcome. However, please read the
[Contributing Guide](https://github.com/vkbo/novelWriter/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) before [Contributing Guide](https://github.com/vkbo/novelWriter/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) before
submitting larger additions or changes to this project. submitting larger additions or changes.
## Key Features ## Key Features
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Some key features of novelWriter are listed below. Consult the
### Markdown Flavour ### Markdown Flavour
novelWriter is _not_ a full-feature Markdown editor. It is a plain text editor that uses Note that novelWriter is _not_ a proper Markdown editor. It is a plain text editor that uses
Markdown-like syntax to allow for a minimal set of formatting that is useful for the specific task Markdown-like syntax to allow for a minimal set of formatting that is useful for the specific task
of writing novels. The formatting is currently limited to: of writing novels. The formatting is currently limited to:
@@ -57,30 +57,30 @@ of writing novels. The formatting is currently limited to:
That is it. Features not supported in the editor are also not exported when using the export tool. That is it. Features not supported in the editor are also not exported when using the export tool.
In addition, novelWriter adds the following, which is otherwise not supported by Markdown: In addition, novelWriter adds the following syntax used for its additional features:
* A line starting with `%` is treated as a comment and not rendered on exports unless requested. * A line starting with `%` is treated as a comment and not rendered on exports unless requested.
Comments do not count towards the word count. Comments do not count towards word counts and other statistics.
* If the first word of the comment is `synopsis:`, the comment is indexed and treated as the * If the first word of the comment is `synopsis:`, the comment is indexed and treated as the
synopsis for the section of text under the same header. These synopsis comments can be used to synopsis for the section of text where it occurs. These synopsis comments can be used to build an
build an outline and exported to external documents. outline and exported to external documents.
* A set of meta data keyword/values starting with the character `@`. This is used for tagging * A set of meta data keyword/values starting with the character `@`. These are used for tagging
and inter-linking documents, and can also be included when generate a project outline. and inter-linking documents, and can also be included when generating a project outline.
* A variety of thin and non-breaking spaces are supported. Some of them depend on the system * A variety of thin and non-breaking spaces are supported. Some of them depend on the system
running at least Qt 5.9. Earlier versions of Qt will unfortunately strip them out when saving. running at least Qt 5.9. Earlier versions of Qt will unfortunately strip them out when saving.
* Tabs can be used in the text, and should be properly aligned in both editor and viewer. This can * Tabs can be used in the text, and should be properly aligned in both editor and viewer. This can
be used to make simple tables and lists. Full Markdown tables and lists are not supported. Note be used to make simple tables and lists. Note that for HTML exports, most browsers will treat a
that for HTML exports, most browsers will treat a tab as a space, so it may not show up like tab as a space, so it may not show up like expected. Open Document exports should produce the
expected. Open Document exports should produce the expected result. expected result.
The core export formats of novelWriter are Open Document and HTML5. Open Document is an open The core export formats of novelWriter are Open Document and HTML5. Open Document is an open
standard for office type documents that is supported by most office applications. See standard for office type documents that is supported by most office applications. See
[Open Document > Application Support](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument#Application_support) [Open Document > Application Support](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDocument#Application_support)
for more details. for more details.
You can also export the entire project as a single novelWriter Markdown-flavour document. These can You can also export the entire project as a single novelWriter-flavour document. These can later be
later be imported again into novelWriter. In addition, printing and export to PDF is offered imported again into novelWriter. In addition, printing and export to PDF is offered through the Qt
through the Qt library, although with limitations to formatting. library, although with limitations to formatting.
### Colour Themes ### Colour Themes
@@ -91,14 +91,14 @@ syntax highlighting themes. Optional GUI themes are also available, including da
The structure of the project is shown on the left hand side of the main window. Project files are The structure of the project is shown on the left hand side of the main window. Project files are
organised into root folders, indicating what class of file they are. The most important root folder organised into root folders, indicating what class of file they are. The most important root folder
is the `Novel` folder, which contains all of the files that make up the finished novel. Each root is the `Novel` folder, which contains all of the files that make up the novel itself. Each root
folder can have subfolders. Subfolders have no impact on the final project structure, they are folder can have subfolders. Subfolders have no impact on the final project structure, they are
there for you to organise your files in whatever way you want. there for you to organise your files in whatever way you want.
The editor supports four levels of headings, which determines what level the following text belongs The editor supports four levels of headings, which determine what level the following text belongs
to. Headings of level one signify a book or partition title. Headings of level two signify the to. Headings of level one signify a book or partition title. Headings of level two signify the
start of a new chapter. Headings of level three signify the start of a new scene. Headings of level start of a new chapter. Headings of level three signify the start of a new scene. Headings of level
four can be used internally in each scene to separate sections. four can be used internally in each scene to create separate sections.
Each novel file can be assigned a layout format, which shows up as a flag next to the item in the Each novel file can be assigned a layout format, which shows up as a flag next to the item in the
project tree. These are mostly to help the user track what they contain, but they also have some project tree. These are mostly to help the user track what they contain, but they also have some
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ impact on the format of the exported document. See the
### Project Notes ### Project Notes
Supporting note files can be added for the story plot, characters, locations, story timeline, etc. Supporting notes can be added for the story plot, characters, locations, story timeline, etc. These
These have their separate root folders. These are optional files. have their separate root folders and are optional to use.
### Visualisation of Story Elements ### Visualisation of Story Elements
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ The different notes can be assigned tags, which other files can refer back to us
meta keywords. This information can be used to display an outline of the story, showing where each meta keywords. This information can be used to display an outline of the story, showing where each
scene connects to the plot, and which characters, etc. occur in them. In addition, the tags scene connects to the plot, and which characters, etc. occur in them. In addition, the tags
themselves are clickable in the document view pane, and control-clickable in the editor. They make themselves are clickable in the document view pane, and control-clickable in the editor. They make
it possible to quickly navigate between the documents while editing. it possible to quickly navigate between the documents while writing.
## Standard Installation ## Standard Installation