Tag Archives: export

TEXTILUS part 1: Opening, new document, settings

This is the first in a series of articles on setting up and using Textilus, the word processing app MDS is using on the iPads.

Part 1 will cover opening the app, look at some of the links and icons on the opening screen, and deal with setting some of the layout options [including setting the default font, linespacing, and page layout]


 

Here’s the screen when opening up the app.

I already have a file in my library, plus a folder that contains sample documents.

Textilus 1 A


 

Click on the LOCATIONS link at top left gets you this screen.

Textilus 1 B

Notice that storing document in your iCloud account is an option. You can then retrieve them on a desktop machine by surfing to iCloud.com and logging in.


The GEAR icon, top right, has these options:

Textilus 1 C

WARNING: IF YOU SET A PASSCODE AND THEN FORGET IT, the MDS tech team CANNOT help you. You will have lost your data.

You can email a backup of all your papers to yourself for safekeeping. This is a GOOD idea, especially when your library contains College Application essays, term papers, etc.

The WIFI TRANSFER option can be used to share documents. Be warned, though, that MDS takes a VERY dim view of plagiarism and cheating. I suggest you doublecheck with your teacher to make sure it’s ok to share.


 

The PLUS icon options:

Textilus 1 D

This is where you create a new document and folder. Notice you can also pull a file down from several different Cloud Services [Drive, iCloud, etc] – AND you can scan a physical document into Textilus.


 

Click the SELECT link at top right, and you see this:

Textilus 1 E

 

After clicking SELECT and then a document:

The EXPORT icon lets you send the document to a variety of places.

Use “Add to Template Chooser” after you setup an initial document with all your settings [like margins and fonts and headers and such hint hint] to add that setup to the Template Chooser. It would save some time later, trust me.

Textilus 1 F

 

The FOLDER icon is how you create a new folder, or move a document into a folder.

Save time and mental stress – keep your papers organized.

Textilus 1 G

 

The TRASH CAN icon is how you delete files. Click

  • SELECT,
  • the document,
  • the trash can,
  • then the “MOVE TO TRASH” link.

Textilus 1 H

 

The WRENCH is yet another way to mail a document.

Textilus 1 I

 


 

 

Clicking the SAMPLES icon opens up a folder that contains folders

There are many documents in here that show you what’s possible with textilus. Take some time to nose around and see what can be done.

Start getting outside your little mental box!

Textilus 1 J

 


 

 

Once you have a document created and opened, here are some instructions on setting up some of your document parameters.

First step: SELECT SOME TEXT.

  • Click on a word with your finger, and hold your finger down until this box pops up. Since we are changing settings for the entire document, SELECT ALL is the best choice.
  • If you don’t have anything to select yet, go ahead and type a few words.

Textilus 1 K

 

SECOND step: After some text is selected, Click the “t” icon, top right. You’ll see Style, Color, and Layout tabs, along with several additional options.

Textilus 1 L

 

THIRD STEP: Let’s set the layout first.

Click the LAYOUT tab.

Set your LINE SPACING to 2.0 by clicking the + sign.  What you see in the graphic is what you’ll need to have 1 inch margins all the way around.

Now click on PAGE SIZE.

Textilus 1 M

 

“Letter” is what you want for English papers at MDS.

Textilus 1 N

 

FOURTH STEP: Now click on the STYLE tab.

  • Click FONT
  • Select TIMES NEW ROMAN from the list.
  • Click on the i icon next to TIMES NEW ROMAN. Make sure “Regular” is selected.
  • Go back to the Style tab.
  • Make the font size 12.

Now that you have things setup, click the button SET AS DEFAULT FOR NEW DOCUMENTS. These settings will automatically be there when you create a new document.

NOTICE: you can create User Styles. I STRONGLY suggest you create a user style for the Works Cited page [with a hanging indent], and then perhaps some indented text [for when you quote someone]. More on that in Part 2 of the series.

Textilus 1 O

 

 

Textilus 1 P

 

 

Textilus 1 Q

 

 

Textilus 1 R

 


 

The key to learning this software is to PLAY with it when NOT UNDER A DEADLINE. It’s really difficult to compose text, type it, keep track of the formatting, AND mess around with the software.

So reduce your stress in advance – play with the software BEFORE you absolutely have to use it a create a paper.

Sending a Keynote file to your teacher

“Why” explained below. First, “How”:

You’ve created a Keynote presentation, and need to get it to your teacher in a way that can be viewed on their laptop [which does NOT have Keynote installed]. Here is how to make sure your presentation can be viewed [and thus graded!]. Click any picture below to see a bigger version.

  1. On your iPad, open up the presentation.
  2. Click the “Share” icon – square with arrow coming out of it.
    14
  3. If you want to email the file, see #4 below.
    If you want to upload a PDF or Powerpoint file to Drive from your keynote presentation, see #5 below.
  4. Select “Send a Copy”
    15B

    1. Pick a file format – PDF or PowerPoint. Ask your Teacher if you don’t know which to use.
    2. Select “Mail”.14B                        Fill out the email, and send it.
  5. Select “Open in Another App”
    15

    1. Pick a file format – PDF or PowerPoint. Ask your Teacher if you don’t know which to use.
    2. Select “Open in Drive”.
      16
    3. Drive will open, and ask “Would you like to upload filename.pptx to My Drive?”
    4. YES, you do!17
    5. After the file has uploaded you can email it, share it with your teacher, view it online, etc.

 


 

What’s this all about? [Some details]

The principle here is dealing with file formats. In this case the students are creating files that the teacher needs to read, but that app is not available for the teacher’s computer [Keynote is a Mac only app, and most MDS teachers have Windows machines].

So how do you deal with the situation where you are creating in one app and need to open it in another?

Here’s your
One Word Explanation:
EXPORT

Find a file format that both sides of the equation can use. Export the file from your app, and the recipient can open it in the app of their choice.

Some file types that commonly transfer nicely include

  • Word processing: rtf, doc, docx
  • Graphics: jpg, png
  • Spreadsheet: csv, xls
  • Video: trickier, because it involves not only the “container” [mp4, mov, avi, wmv, m4a] but also the “codec” [how the video was prepared]. Export the same file a few different ways and see which one works.
  • Text & Graphics: PDF

In the list above, you are walked through the steps of taking a keynote presentation on an iPad, exporting it as either a PDF or PPTX [Powerpoint] file, then uploading it to Drive. The teacher can then open the file up in a PDF reader or Powerpoint.