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Editing content
FirstClass objects such as documents, messages, and calendar events and tasks contain content in the body (the bottom pane) of the object. This content can consist of text, embedded pictures or other files, horizontal lines, page breaks, markers, and links. You can add, edit, and format content.
To move to the body of an object in order to work with it, click it.
Immediately after you have made a change in the body, you can undo it by right-clicking and choosing Undo (Windows only).



Searching for text
To search for specific text in content, use your web browser's find feature.



Adding backgrounds for content
Applying background colors
To apply a background color for your content:
1 Choose Format > Format Background.
2 Select "Use color" and choose the color you want.
Click a color on the color palette or, for a custom color, type the red, green, blue values.
Using picture files as backgrounds
To use a picture file as a background for your content:
1 Choose Format > Format Background.
2 Select the picture file.
If the picture file is on your computer, click Browse, then select the file. After it appears in the attachments input field, click Attach.
If the file is stored on the FirstClass server, click On Server, then select the file by clicking it. You can use the icons at the top of the Attach form to navigate to the file.
3 Select the file at "Use image".
4 Choose the position you want for the background picture at "Image position".
The background picture can be located at the top left, tiled, centered, or stretched to fit the page.



Changing margins
To change the margins for all the content:
1 Choose Format > Format Margins.
2 Type the number of pixels you want as top, bottom, left, and right indents.



Copying content from other sources
You can copy content from another FirstClass object to the clipboard and paste it into the body of your new object, just as you would normally do in your operating system.



Inserting page breaks
To insert a page break, choose Insert > Page Break.



Editing with FirstClass
FirstClass works in a similar manner to most word processing software. For example, you can change the margins for all the content, and format paragraphs and selected text.
In FirstClass, you can select text in the standard ways used by your operating system. These are some of the ways you can select text:
• drag the cursor over a block of text
• double-click a word to select it
• click a paragraph to select it
• triple-click a paragraph to select it and all of the content within it
• press Control A (Windows, Linux) or Command A (Mac) to select all content.
You can also use standard editing functions such as copy, cut, and paste on your content.
To move content from one place to another within the same object, select it, then drag it to the desired location. If you press Control (Windows, Linux) or Option (Mac) as you drag, you will copy the content instead of moving it.



Formatting text
Changing fonts
To change the font of selected text, choose the font from the edit bar:
5232006_44342_0.png
Changing text size
To change the size of selected text, choose the size from the edit bar:
5232006_44457_1.png
Changing text color
To change the color of selected text, choose the color you want from the edit bar:
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Changing other text styles
You can apply the following styles to selected text by clicking the appropriate button on the editing toolbar:
• plain (removes all formatting you have applied using these buttons)
• bold
• italic
• underlined
• quoted (formats the text based on your quoted text preferences).
For additional text format options, click Format Selection with the text selected.
"Placement" allows you to apply superscript or subscript formatting.
2102006_35208_0.png "Literal HTML" only applies to the FirstClass client.



Formatting paragraphs
Changing paragraph alignment
You can align a paragraph with the left margin, the right margin, or the center of the body.
To align a selected paragraph, choose the alignment you want from the edit bar:
5232006_45933_0.png
Changing paragraph spacing
You can change both the spacing between lines for a paragraph and the amount of space above it.
To change a selected paragraph's spacing:
1 Click Format Paragraphs.
2 Type your spacing requirements at "Space above" and "Line space".
Indenting paragraphs
You can change the indentation of a paragraph from the left and right margins. In addition, you can set a separate indentation value for the first line of the paragraph.
To indent or outdent a selected paragraph from the left, click Increase Indent or Decrease Indent. The paragraph moves over each time you click the button.
To indent or outdent a selected paragraph from the right, or format the paragraph with a separate first line indent:
1 Click Format Paragraphs.
2 Type your indentation, in pixels, at "Right side" or "First line".



Inserting horizontal lines
You can insert a horizontal line to visually break up content.
To insert a horizontal line, choose Insert > Horizontal Line. A line is drawn below the current cursor position, and the cursor and any subsequent content drop below this line.



Working with tables
Tables let you put content in rows and columns of cells.
A table cell can contain not only text, but all normal content elements, such as embedded pictures, multiple paragraphs, and even another embedded table.
To move from cell to cell, use the arrow keys.
Creating tables
To create a table:
1 Choose Insert > Table.
2 Update the New Table form.


Rows
The number of rows in the table.
Columns
The number of columns in the table.
Alignment
The table alignment (aligned to the left margin, to the right margin, or centered).
Width
The table width.
Use the second field to specify this as a percent of the margin-to-margin width or as an absolute value in pixels. If you specify percent, the table shrinks or grows as the window is resized.
Place text beside table
Makes content flow beside a table that is narrower than the margin-to-margin width.
The paragraphs below the table move up beside it.
First row is header
Makes the first row a header row that will repeat at the top of each printed page or slide in a presentation.

Selecting parts of tables


To select
Do this
a row
Drag the cursor over all cells in the row.
a column
Drag the cursor over all cells in the column.
a cell
Click it.

Selecting whole tables
To select an entire table, drag the cursor over the whole table.
Formatting tables
You can format a table to change its appearance. To do this:
1 Click anywhere in the table.
2 Choose Table Operations > Format Table.
3 Update the Format Table form.


Alignment
The table alignment (aligned to the left margin, to the right margin, or centered).
Width
The table width.
Use the second field to specify this as a percent of the margin-to-margin width or as an absolute value in pixels.
If you specify percent, the table shrinks or grows as the window is resized.
Table padding
The number of pixels of space around all sides of the table.
Place text beside table
Makes content flow beside a table that is narrower than the margin-to-margin width.
The paragraphs below the table move up beside it.
First row is header
Makes the first row a header row that will repeat at the top of each printed page or slide in a presentation.
Borders
The border width in pixels.
Exterior
Makes the borders around the table visible.
Horizontal
Makes the borders between rows visible.
Vertical
Makes the borders between columns visible.
Color
The border color.
To select a standard color, click it. To create a custom color, type its red, green, and blue values.
Comment
The table's summary property.
Some browsers can display this in a tooltip when the cursor is hovered over the table.

Formatting selected cells
You can format a selected cell to change its appearance. To do this:
1 Choose Table Operations > Format Cells.
2 Update the Format Cells form.


Layout
Alignment
The alignment of content within the cell.
The first field affects vertical alignment and the second affects horizontal alignment.
Padding
The number of pixels of space around all sides of the content in the cell.
Column width
The width of the column in which the cell is located.
Use the second field to specify this as a percent of the total table width or as an absolute value in pixels.
81203_42935_18.png Tip
If you want one column to stay the same size, but allow the other columns to resize with the window, make that column fixed width and the other columns a percent.
Columns have a default minimum width. You can neither make the column narrower than that minimum, nor widen it so much that another column would become narrower than the minimum. You also can't widen the rightmost column without first making the table narrower.
Row starts new page
Places the row containing the cell on a new printed page or slide in a presentation.
Borders
Horizontal
Makes the cell's bottom border visible. Set the border width in the next field.
If this border is part of the exterior table border, it won't be affected by these fields.
Vertical
Makes the cell's right border visible. Set the border width in the next field.
If this border is part of the exterior table border, it won't be affected by these fields.
Background
Adds the background color you specify to the cell.
Select "Use color", then choose the color you want. Click a color on the color palette or, for a custom color, type the red, green, and blue values.

Adding rows


To insert a row
Do this
above the selected row
Choose Table Operations > Insert Rows, or click the up arrow in the rows control beside the selected row.
below the selected row
Choose Table Operations > Insert Rows After, or click the down arrow in the rows control.

Adding columns


To insert a column
Do this
to the left of the selected column
Choose Table Operations > Insert Columns, or click the left arrow in the columns control above the selected column.
to the right of the selected column
Choose Table Operations > Insert Columns After, or click the right arrow in the columns control.

Deleting rows and columns


To delete
Do this
the selected row
Choose Table Operations > Delete Rows, or click the x in the rows control.
the selected column
Choose Table Operations > Delete Columns, or click the x in the columns control.

Merging cells
You can merge cells in a row or a column. The borders between merged cells are removed, and the cells are combined so that there is just one content area that spans all merged cells.


To
Do this
merge the selected cell with the cell to its left
Choose Table Operations > Merge Columns.
merge the selected cell with the cell above it
Choose Table Operations > Merge Rows.

Splitting merged cells


To
Do this
split the rightmost cell from the selected merged cells
Choose Table Operations > Split Columns.
split the bottom cell from the selected merged cells
Choose Table Operations > Split Rows.

Working with multipage tables
If you have a long table that spans several pages, you can:
• add column headings that will appear at the top of each page
• insert page breaks to start particular rows at the tops of pages.
7202010_20004_0.png Note
You won't see these normally. You will see them in presentation view mode and when you print.
Adding repeating column headings
To make the first row of a table act as column headings which repeat at the top of each page:
1 Click anywhere in the table.
2 Choose Table Operations > Format Table.
3 Select "First row is header".
You can also select this when you first create a table.
Inserting page breaks in tables
To specify that a row is to start on the top of the next page:
1 Select the row.
2 Choose Table Operations > Format Cells.
3 Select "Row starts new page".



Working with embedded files
An object can contain picture files that are embedded directly in the content. If FirstClass supports the file type of an embedded file, the file contents are displayed; otherwise, a placeholder is displayed.
7202010_20004_0.png Note
You can also embed other types of files, such as sound files. Embedded sound files display the file name.
To see the file name of an embedded picture, display its tooltip. If a description of the picture was supplied, that is displayed instead.
To see an embedded picture file in a separate window, double-click it.
To play an embedded sound file, click it.
Embedding pictures
To embed a picture file into your content:
1 Click where you want to insert the picture.
2 Choose Insert > Image/File.
3 Select the picture file just as you would if you were adding a background picture.
4 Select the file at "Select file to embed".
5 Specify how you want the picture displayed:


Appearance
Alignment
Right
Aligns the picture to the right.
Text wraps to the left of the picture.
Left
Aligns the picture to the left.
Text wraps to the right of the picture.
Inline Top
Aligns the top of the picture with the top of the text line.
The picture flows with the text.
Inline Bottom
Aligns the bottom of the picture with the text baseline.
The picture flows with the text.
Inline Center
Centers the picture vertically on the text line.
The picture flows with the text.
Padding
The number of pixels of blank space surrounding the picture.
Comment
Any descriptive text that you want to display for this file.
Users will see this information as a tooltip.
View size
Original Size
Makes the picture the same size as the original.
preset percentages
Resizes the picture by those percentages.
Height
The height of the picture in pixels.
This and "Width" allow you to specify an exact size, instead of changing the original size by a percentage.
Width
The width of the picture in pixels.
Maintain aspect ratio
Makes the picture the same relative dimensions as the original.
If you select this, then change either the height or width, the other dimension will change automatically.

Changing picture properties
You can change the same properties for an embedded picture as you set when you embedded it. You can also substitute a different picture.
To change picture properties:
1 Select the picture by clicking it.
2 Click Format Selection.
3 Update the Format Embedded File form as described above.