Change font color

[Steve5]

I have a document with black font color. I want to add notes in red. When I select red, it doesn't lock in and I have to re-set it every time. How do I lock in another color other than black?

[JeJe]

Is this just in OpenOffice and not in LibreOffice as you signature having both?

[Zizi64]

Use the styles (the paragraph styles and/or the character styles) instead of the manual (direct) formatting method.

[Hagar Delest]

I remember a topic in the forum about that with OpenOffice: you have to select text first and then change the color to make it stick on the button.
I just tried with LibreOffice and you don't need that.

[JeJe]

Customise your toolbar. You'll see from the picture there are two font color icons to choose from - add the first one to your toolbar, and that functions properly.

(They both say they're the same thing - but have different commands associated with them
The existing one is ".uno:FontColor" and the other one is " .uno:Color")

I'd report these bugs but when I last tried to register to do that, they weren't accepting anybody.

pic.jpg (43.2 KiB) Viewed 22630 times

[Hagar Delest]

Note that LO also has both icons but from the side bar, it seems to be the good one.
I also checked with a brand new profile and the default one in the top toolbar works fine too, it's the .uno:Color one.

[Steve5]

I was using Libre office, but it's not locking in on Open Office either. From here on, I will be referring to Open Office.

I clicked Styles and that brought up the Style and Formatting, but the window came up with a lot of things, alot of "Headings" 1, 2, 3...no "paragraph" or "character"

I did "select text" by highlighting it. But it just reverts back to black after that.

There is only one "Font color" icon, not two to choose from.

If I want to change the font color, I should just click the font color icon, and pick a color. And it should work even above where where I decided to change the color, not just from that point, downward.

All I asked was how to change a color and have it lock in. The fact that no one has the simple answer, and the suggestions either don't work or are too complicated, shows that just like everything else with OO, LO and even Word, they make this way more complicated then it should be. All I want to do is change the color of the font. Why is that so complicated?

[Hagar Delest]

Sorry but it works fine by default with LibreOffice (tested with a brand new profile). I remember that it used to be less simple with AOO because indeed, you had to change the icon. The change is done by customizing the toolbar as shown in the screenshot.

just like everything else with OO, LO and even Word, they make this way more complicated then it should be.

Maybe you just need a more basic text editor then. Often it's complicated because the features are too advanced for our own use. Then either learn and adapt or change the tool.
I agree, I don't see any point providing 2 buttons for the same use and making the least user-friendly the default one (for AOO). But that's the way it is so far (and LO did not remove the other button either; maybe there is a specific intent for having 2 slightly different buttons). Once you have customized the toolbar, you're good to go.

If I want to change the font color, I should just click the font color icon, and pick a color. And it should work even above where where I decided to change the color, not just from that point, downward.

Then that's definitively not the use of the button. If you want to change the font color of the whole text, then you have to edit the paragraph style or the character style. That needs advanced features (the styles) because the button in the toolbar are usually used to apply a font color to limited parts of a text (like the other formatting button for bold, underline...), which is the expectation for 99.99% of text application users.

[Zizi64]

All I asked was how to change a color and have it lock in. The fact that no one has the simple answer,"

You can use the Styles as an efficient solution. The styles can store the properties what you set it in them.

And you can use your own macros as a direct formatting method. The macro code can store the color code (RGB code) what you want to use in the direct formatting.

(And you can use the LibreOffice. That can remember the last used character color.)

[Steve5]

Hagar, what do you mean it works by default? Not on my end. I do not see a second Font Color icon. I'm not trying to change the text that's already there. If I did, I can just highlight whatever text I want to change, and click a color. I don't want to do that. I just want to change the color so I can write in that second color, and lock it in. Instead of having to open the Font color window every single time I want to use it.

Zizi, I have no idea how to use the styles and formatting. The window opens and I see first line indent, hanging indent, Heading 1, 2, 3 etc. And no idea what you're talking about. All that just to change the font color?

This is ridiculous. All I want to do is change the font color and have it lock in. Why is this so difficult?

[JeJe]

Install the attached extension on ***OpenOffice***. It will add a button called Toggle font to your Formatting Toolbar. Pressing it will change the font color from black to red or red to black.

[Zizi64]

Zizi, I have no idea how to use the styles and formatting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi3LIz8TgHY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAU5Isc6efk
https://documentation.libreoffice.org/e ... mentation/
https://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Docume ... r_Students

[Hagar Delest]

Hagar, what do you mean it works by default? Not on my end.

It does on my end with LibreOffice 24.8.2 (portable version on Windows 10).

I do not see a second Font Color icon.

Go to the toolbar customization dialog and you will see them like shown in Jeje's post above.

This is ridiculous. All I want to do is change the font color and have it lock in. Why is this so difficult?

Once you know how to drive a car it's quite ridiculous simple. However, there need to be some basic learning first, be it standards or tweaks.

[Steve5]

JeJe, only black to red and red to black? What if I wanted to go from black to blue? Or if I change the default (somehow) to blue and wanted to change it to red, or green? But I shouldn't have to add some kind of software just to lock in a change to the font color after changing it.

ZiZi, So I have to go through four links just to figure out how to use the formatting/styles so I can change the font? That would be like having to read a phone book-sized instruction booklet just to learn how to signal a left or right turn in a car.

Hager, I'm using Open Office, not Libre. But I did try it in Libre, 24.8.4.2, and it doesn't lock in there either.

In OO, I did open that toolbar customization, I scrolled down and there's only one font icon. And there is a check in the box. I use that icon to change the color, but again, it does not lock in. So every time I want to use it, I have to do that. Silly.

Yes, basic learning. What can be more basic then changing the font color and have it lock in?

There's a font icon there for a reason. And that reason is....gee, I don't know...to change the font color? So you'd think that once you go into that icon, and click a new color, it would stay that way until you make another change. If that's not basic, and logical, then I don't know what is.

Why even bother with a second icon? Just have it lock in with the first one. Or does that make way too much sense?

All I want to do is change the font color and have it lock in. I don't know why this is so complicated. Actually, it's impossible, because it doesn't seem that you can lock in a different color, unless you're a super expert in this. And no, I should have to be just to change the font color and have it lock in.

By the way, I tried changing the font size. And that doesn't lock in either. This is ridiculous.

[JeJe]

JeJe, only black to red and red to black?

Because that's what you said you wanted in your initial post... so I custom wrote an extension doing exactly that. It didn't take long... if it had done, I'd be annoyed with the way you're coming across in your posts: none of us wrote the programme, we're all users trying to help you for free.

Like the others I have no problem in LibreOffice with the font color - and I have no problems in either OO or LO selecting the font size - so it sounds a problem that's unique to your setup... could it be a problem with the mouse or whatever you're using to select the font size? If we can't replicate your problem its difficult for other people to investigate.

[Zizi64]

By the way, I tried changing the font size. And that doesn't lock in either. This is ridiculous.

The font size box always shows the actual font size of the selected text. It will show nothing, when you select (highlight) a text with mixed font size.

ZiZi, So I have to go through four links just to figure out how to use the formatting/styles so I can change the font? That would be like having to read a phone book-sized instruction booklet just to learn how to signal a left or right turn in a car.

The Styles are the most valuable tool/feature of the OpenOffice and LibreOffice. This is the basic feature of the office suite. The MS-like manual (direct) formatting icons exists for the "usage compatibility" only. Direct formatting is not an efficient method. I can not help you if you want not use the styles.

But I did try it in Libre, 24.8.4.2, and it doesn't lock in there either.

Yes, the LO can remember the LAST USED character color.

See my attachment: There is selected a mixed size, black color text: the Font Size box is empty. The Font Color icon shows the previously used font color.

FontSizeColor.png (28.06 KiB) Viewed 21851 times

[JeJe]

In OO, I did open that toolbar customization, I scrolled down and there's only one font icon. And there is a check in the box. I use that icon to change the color, but again, it does not lock in. So every time I want to use it, I have to do that. Silly.

Does it look exactly the same as the picture I posted - or were you looking at the list of buttons on the toolbar - not the list of buttons to add to the toolbar when you try and add a button which is what my picture shows?

By the way, I tried changing the font size. And that doesn't lock in either.

How long has this problem been there? Was it okay, then it changed to a problem? If so then what happened... did you update the Operating system, your drivers or OO or install some other software or device... could you update the OS and see if that makes a difference... have you done a deep scan for viruses... how about trying a different pointing device or a different computer...

Edit: does the problem occur in other applications...

[Steve5]

Zizi, I know the font size box shows the size you are using, and it's blank when you highlight. I don't know why you're bringing that up. That has nothing to do with locking in a change to font color.

But when I change it, it does not lock in. For example, if I'm using font 12, and change it to 13, I'll get 13 where the cursor is. But when I scroll down to another point in the document, it reverts back to 12. This is what's happening to the color.

JeJe, when I click the arrow and go to visible buttons (and also customize toolbar), there's a list that unfolds. Yes, it looks like the picture you posted on Feb. 10, but I only have one Font Color icon, not two.

This has always been an issue. In fact, it happened on my old laptop and also now with a new laptop after installing OO on the new one. I never bothered asking about it until now.

I don't know why this is so hard to understand. If you have a document with black text (or size 12 font) and you want to now use red to edit that document (or use 13 font) why should you have to click the color icon (or font size icon) and make that change every single time you want to use red (or size 13) as go through the document?

This should not be this complicated. And I shouldn't have to be an expert in using the styles and formatting just to change the font color or size and have it lock in.

Hey, I have an idea. It's a bit radical but I'll throw it out there. How about when you click the font color icon and change the color, it locks in! Then there wouldn't be a need to be an expert in this and the styles and formatting, and this entire post wouldn't have been necessary.

[Zizi64]

"Hey, I have an idea. It's a bit radical but I'll throw it out there. How about when you click the font color icon and change the color, it locks in! Then there wouldn't be a need to be an expert in this and the styles and formatting, and this entire post wouldn't have been necessary."

It is a very bad idea.

The styles are not some features for the expert users. The styles are the most valuable basic tool of the OpenOffice and the LibreOffice.

And the LibreOffice can lock the color icon. The LO always shows the last used color, as I have demonstrated for you before.

[Hagar Delest]

For example, if I'm using font 12, and change it to 13, I'll get 13 where the cursor is. But when I scroll down to another point in the document, it reverts back to 12.
[...]
This has always been an issue. In fact, it happened on my old laptop and also now with a new laptop after installing OO on the new one. I never bothered asking about it until now.
[...]
Hey, I have an idea. It's a bit radical but I'll throw it out there. How about when you click the font color icon and change the color, it locks in! Then there wouldn't be a need to be an expert in this and the styles and formatting, and this entire post wouldn't have been necessary.

OK I got it now.
Actually, you want to add something like comments that would have a specific formatting, completely different from the text.
If you want to do that in the text, then it's not possible because each part of the text already has its own formatting. The prrof is that you cuoldn't do that in the past. Not with AOO, nor with anything else neither BTW.

For what you want, either use the change record feature or the comments feature.
But the toolbar buttons are not intended for what you are trying to do, that's all.

[RoryOF]

When I want to insert an inline edit, in different style to surrounding ("standard") text, I use a character style, with the font and font colour set in the character style definition.

[Hagar Delest]

I guess that OP wants an easy way, like he was a teacher correcting copies using a red pen to add comments.

[RoryOF]

In place of the OP using the Font colour button, all he need to is add a button to toggle the use of a Character style which uses his predefined font and colour of choice. Then, when he wishes to insert an inline entry, he presses that button, types his text, then presses that button to turn off the chosen character style.

[JeJe]

So, what you effectively want is, when you click in the document the font color and size match that of the previous caret position, not the new one. It can be done with a macro, as in the attached document, but using character styles and setting a keyboard shortcut to the style would be less ropey.

[JeJe]

Similar with the attached extension. but uses a keyhandler so you can store the current color and height and then navigate using the arrows or mouse and the stored color and height will be applied to any new typing.

[Steve5]

Hagar, well it shouldn't be that way. There is no reason why you shouldn't be able pick a color and have it lock in. But wait a minute. It does allow you to change a color, and use it. Just for that line (or maybe paragraph). So if it is letting you change the formatting (OMG! The formatting changed! They sky will fall in!), then why not have it lock in so you don't have to go up to the icon every stinkin' time you want to use it?

Oh wait, that would make wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to much sense.

Ok, what the heck is the comment feature, and where is it?

Rory, thanks but I'm not sure I know how to do that. I went up to Format - Character, and there's no settings for color (and don't bother explaining the Character inside the Style and Formatting, it would take too long for me to figure it out)

Yes, Hagar, I guess you can say I want to add a red pen to add comments. Add an icon? Right, but I don't have a second Font color icon (see my comments above).

Jeje, I have no idea what macro is.

Again, the fact that this post is going on this long, and that I'd have to use the Styles and Formatting, or the Macro (whatever that is), shows that this is way more complicated and confusing then it should be. All I want to do is change the color (or font size) and have it lock in. Is that too much to ask?

Not everyone who uses OO or LO is an expert the moment they download it. And for basic word processing you shouldn't have to take a course just to figure out how to change the font color (or font size) and have it lock in.

Agaln, if I went to the Font icon and changed the color and it locked in - which, by the way is the way anyone using this would assume it would work - none of this would have been necessary and all of us would have saved ourselves a lot of time and frustration.

[Steve5]

Ok I found comment. That's not going to work. It opens a narrow window on the right and sort of points to a location in the text where you want to insert a comment with an annoying yellowish line. I don't like that at all. And making it even worse, is that you have to go up to Insert - Comments every time you want to use it! If I have to do that, I might as well go up to the Font icon and change the color every time.

Also, this feature keeps the edits in that window. I want my edits (in a different color) at the spot of the text I want those edits. Not on the side of the page.

[Zizi64]

Do you want to do changes in the text with different color letters?
Why not use the Track changes feature of the AOO/LO?
That will colorize the letters what you insert into the original text, and it will colorize and make it strikethrough what you "deleted". The deleted parts (and the color of the letters) stay visible until your partner accept or reject what you have modified.


You vave more than one tool for this task:

• the colorize icon on the toolbar for the old fashioned, abandoned MANUAL FORMATTING method, (what locks the last used color in the LIBREOFFICE, but not in the OpenOffice.)

• the Character styles (what you can apply by a custon menu item, by a custom toolbar item/icon, by a hotkey, by a macro

• the Macros (you can create, manage, apply character styles, or you can make direct (manual) formatting by a macro),

• the Comments feature,

• the Track changes feature,

• and you can print the text, then you will able colorize the letters with a highlight-pen on the paper.

Here is a sample file with a custom new customizes toolbar (textual items), with two applicable Character styles (MyRedLetters and Default character styles). There is not assigned any icons to the toolbar items, they will be appeared as texts.
You can make ths new toolbar "floating state" - if you want it. Then it will float on the text editing area, and you can drag he toolbar anywhere on it. The scope of this customized toolbar is this document only.

It will work perfectly in the LibreOffice only! Tested in LO 7.5.8 and in LO 24.8.4.2.
My AOO 4.1.5 portable version works partially only with these modifications (The AOO can not handle the newer ODF filetype versions, and some built-in styles not exist in the Apache OpenOffice, and the tools for assign styles to a toolbar is not so good in the AOO.)

Customized colorize toolbar.odt

(30.45 KiB) Downloaded 37 times

floating Colorize toolbar and Character styles.png (51 KiB) Viewed 20400 times

[Hagar Delest]

You want your word processor to behave your way but it is not the way it works because by default because very few users want the color to be locked for any added text.
For 99.9999% users, they expect the color to be the one of the text where they place the cursor. It may be the first time I see your request in the forum (almost 20 years now).
Maybe you should read some tutorials about word processors and see for example if the change record feature could not suit your needs.

[JeJe]

I presume there's another word processor that does it how you want? This is going round in a circle, people are offering solutions and you're still spending all your time berating the software, rather than looking at them.

If I understand, thanks to Hagar Delest's insight, what you want- moving the caret and it starts applying a set font, rather then how it is at that position already - without you telling it - then a macro, like the one I wrote. which you didn't even look at, is the only way to do it.

You could put in a feature request in LO but that would likely be long term, if ever.( Edit: It is a good feature, what you're suggesting, but the software, natively, isn't designed that way.)