Help, Cousins!

[alynwa]

I am currently posting stories on AO3 and I've run into a problem I hope someone can solve for me because I'm being dense.  If I paste a work, it comes up plain text.  If I click on "rich text"  I can't edit it even though the different text options bar shows up.  It just turns into one huge paragraph.  When I clicked on the, for lack of a better term, "help" button, the explanation is over my head.  Do I have to use all the symbols they are talking about?  Like <em> and <H1>, <H2>, etc? so I can have the text I want bolded or italicized?  Am I making this harder than it is?

And, I tried to import a story from google docs and the site says it can't do it.  Has anyone else tried to do that?  Is it possible?  And, of course, fanfiction dot net won't allow AO3 to import docs.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Comments

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I use the rich text feature. I click on the very first icon on the left. It gives me another smaller window and I do a cut/paste into it. The only problem I have is that it occasionally drops text. I have to go back through the story and make sure everything is still there.

Example it looks like

The cat in the hat was tired.
1. Then it was time to leave.

It's a pain, but it's the best I can do.

I don't know if that helps at all, but that's what I have to do.

ARRGGGHHHH!

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

I dunno, Spikesgirl58, I clicked on rich text, and then clicked on the first icon (paste from Word), but no smaller window opens for me. I have no idea why. When I just pasted my story into the text field and attempt to post, I get the message that there is nothing there and when I look, there is nothing there even though the story looked the way I wanted it to look. I've given up for the night, otherwise I may throw my laptop across the room. I really appreciate your help and I'm going to try this again tomorrow.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm loading a story step by step now. You click on the far right hand button under work text that reads rich text and the button goes to HTML.

Then you move across to the left side and click on the W for word (this is assuming you are using a PC and not a Mac). A small box that says copy from Word comes up. You do a cut and paste (copy your text first and then just hit Ctrl V inside the small box).

Your text should appear there and you can post. If you'd like, e mail me the text (charliekirby@comcast.net) and I can try for you.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Hi, Charlie. I just do not understand why, when I click on the Paste from Word icon, absolutely nothing happens. I've rebooted my lapton PC, nothing. Clicked on it and waited for minutes, nothing. Threatened my computer with bodily harm. Nothing. I appreciate your offer to post, but no thanks. I can't expect you to post all or any of my stuff.

I did figure out that if I upload my stuff here, I can import it to AO3. Until I can work it out, I'll just have to do it that way.

What I need to do is use someone else's computer to see if I encounter the same problem. If I do, it's me. If I don't, it is my laptop.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Sounds to me like it's time to send a message to the help desk and see what they suggest. I'm stumped.

Of course, I'm having a similar problem here making user pictures, so I understand your frustration more than you know. People have been helpful and explained it to me, but it isn't helping... sigh.

If you would like, send me a PM with your user name and a temporary password (and the story) and I will load it for you.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Charlie, I may take you up on your offer, but right now, the help desk said they are aware of the issue; apparently I'm not the only one. I'm afraid to think about why you can use rich text and I can't...

Keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

They have been having some trouble today.

The reason I can upload and you can't is probably because we are routed to different servers. Some sites can have several servers many miles (or even countries)apart. That's why some people can get into LJ when others can't.

Know that I'm here for you if you need me.

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[alynwa.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Charlie!!

Re: ARRGGGHHHH!

[spikesgirl58.livejournal.com]

Anytime, just let me know!

[jkkitty.livejournal.com]

What they are talking about are the html labels. The H1, etc are heading label. in order to get spaces between paragraphs you must use

at beginning of each paragraph and

at the end.

Not sure about rich text as I never use it. Hope this help you get going at least.