InScribe 2008 Preview - 1
This note illustrates some features of the upcoming InScribe 2008 software with specific reference to changes from InScribe 2004. Please note that, given the development status of the software, some changes in detail can be expected in the full release.
Note: Screen-shots given here were taken in Vista from work in progress. The look is virtually identical under XP. These screen-shots will be updated to match the first preview version when completed.
The New Look InScribe
The look of InScribe 2008 has been modernized. InScribe has always favoured 'point and click' in the user interface so it was natural to organize the new design along similar lines to the 'Fluent' Ribbon interface used in Microsoft Office 2007. This approach has enabled much new functionality to be added while maintaining uncomplicated modes of working and a clean interface. The user can select from a choice of colour themes beyond that used in these sample screen-shots.
The Home Tab
Phonetic Palettes
This redesigned 'Alphabet Menu' of InScribe 2004 has some changes over its 2004 counterpart. The sign repertoire available using palettes is confined to the set to be included in Unicode 5.2 Standard. This means a few InScribe 2004 signs are no longer present, and there is a small set of additions. The Phonetic Palettes Menu now works like the Gardiner/Unicode Palettes Menu, i.e. left click on a sign to pop up the palette. A button has been added for Egyptian Numbers.
Gardiner/Unicode Palettes
Despite the graphical change, sign input from the 'Gardiner Menu' is much as before except for use of the Unicode 5.2 subset. As with the Phonetic palettes, a few InScribe 2004 signs are no longer present here, and there is a small set of additions. Signs not given in the palettes can be entered in a variety of ways, e.g. use the 'Sign Navigator', copy and paste, or simply type the code.
Text Style
Text attributes such as bold and italic can be selected using standard word processing conventions. This (along with the more elaborate features of the 'Format tab') replaces the Editorial Menu of InScribe 2004. Note that the unified treatment of scripts in InScribe 2008 allows text styles to be applied equally to modern and hieroglyphic text. The font size is not directly selected here, rather one chooses from a list of options (beginners can stick with 'Normal' and 'Heading'). Precise control over font sizes and options is given under the 'Format Tab'.
Paragraph
InScribe 2008 introduces word-processing features beyond the very basic set possible with Manuel de Codage (MdC) based editors such as InScribe 2004. Thus, for example, lines of text/paragraphs can be left, right, centred or justified and there is more precise control over line spacing. These Paragraph commands follow the standard methods used by most word-processor and other applications.