Window Options for Multiple Files

Nota Bene provides an option to use a system of numbering the open files so that you can easily and quickly move from one open file to another. Those who have used the DOS versions of Nota Bene will recognize this as the traditional Nota Bene system of managing open files in different numbered windows. During any session, the numbers assigned to an open file will not change even if other files are opened or closed. You can assign numbers or even letters to the files as you open them. This provides the mechanism for ordering your work efficiently. For example, suppose you are writing a book with six chapters (each chapter in a separate file) and you typically work with a to do list open in a separate file. You could choose to organize your work by consistently opening each chapter in a window with number corresponding to chapter number and your to do list in window labeled "D." With this organization and these open files, a simple keystroke combination (Ctrl+W, 3) will always take you to chapter 3 and another keystroke combination (Ctrl+W, D) will take you to your to do list. Instructions for setting up and using this system are as follows.

To select the optional fixed windows numbers style:

1	Click Tools, Preferences

2	The Preferences dialog box will appear on your screen. Highlight Window Options and click the Set button.

3	The Window Number Options dialog box will appear on your screen. Click the Optional Fixed Window Numbers (Original NB Style) radio button.

4	Click OK. Close the Preferences dialog box by clicking Close (or by clicking the X in the top right corner).

5	The new system will not be in effect for currently open files. If you intend to use this feature in the current editing session, close all your Nota Bene files and, after all files are closed, reopen them.

To move from one open file to another:

Note that each open file has been assigned a fixed number (fixed for the duration of this editing session). The fixed number is shown in parentheses after the name of the file at the top of the window containing the open file. For a list of all of the open files and their fixed numbers, click Window. The list is in the bottom half of the drop down menu and the fixed numbers are in parentheses at the end of the name of the file (the numbers at the beginning of the line reflect the Windows standard numbering system). Note the numbers of each open file.

2	Press Ctrl+W, n where n = the fixed number of the file you want to go to. For example to go the file with the fixed number of 3, press Ctrl+W and then the number 3.

You can also move from one open file to another using the methods described in Working with multiple files.

To select the fixed number (or letter) for a file that you are about to open:

1	Press Ctrl+W

2	Press any single digit number (0 - 9) or any letter (a - z). (The number or letter you select must be one that is not already in use as a fixed number for another open file.)

3	Open an existing file or a new file using either menus or action line. After step 2 and before you open a file, the menus and the action line will be active, but you will not be able to type in the main part of the screen.

4	The new file you opened in step 3 will be assigned the number or letter you selected in step 2.