Frameworks Overview

The Framework feature in Nota Bene provides powerful controls for writing an outline or for writing a book or article with structured headings and subheadings. A framework can be a simple outline with numbered and lettered headings, or it can be a structure that has formatted headings and subheadings, each with associated body text. You can use predefined frameworks or you can define the formatting for your own framework structure. Once a framework is selected and inserted in an open file, the framework controls are active and you will have many ways of viewing and working with your document. Academic Styles make use of the frameworks structure, so the information in this section is relevant to anyone using an Academic Style.

Insert a framework: The first step in using Nota Bene's framework structure is to choose the structure that you want to use and insert it in your open document. The framework views and controls are only available when the displayed document has a framework inserted. See Insert a Framework.

Dialog Bars: When you insert a framework for the first time, the Framework Defaults dialog will allow you to choose whether you would like to have dialog bars open when you are working on a document that has a framework. The dialog bars make it easier for you to work within the framework. The Options Dialog Bar will be on the left side of your screen (or you can choose a narrower toolbar) and the Navigation Dialog Bar will be on the right side.

Outline View: Outline view displays your whole document on screen in a fully editable outline view with considerable flexibility in choosing the portions of the framework to be displayed. You can display only first level headings, all headings, or any number of levels of subheadings. If your framework includes body text, you can hide the body text, display the first line of text or display all of the text. Within one section of the outline, you can display more levels of headings and/or text than you display for the rest of the document. Outline view is for reference only and cannot be printed directly. You can, however, print an outline by creating a printable Page Layout (Alternate) View. Switch to Outline View by clicking the Outline View icon, by clicking View, Outline or by pressing Shift+F7. See Outline View.

Framework Markers: Framework and outline elements are easily identifiable in NB documents by the colored brackets that define each element. Heading levels are surrounded by yellow brackets and body text elements are surrounded by green brackets. Framework markers can be activated only if a framework has been inserted in a document. See Framework Markers.

Sample Instructional File: A Nota Bene file that shows an outline and provides a brief tutorial is available on the Help menu. The file describes and demonstrates the use of the framework markers, the options bar, the navigate/view bar, framework controls and more. To open this file, click Help, Sample Instructional Files and select Frameworks/Outlines.