When I export an OmniOutliner outline to Pages as Word (outline), I get a properly formatted document, except there is no space between the items.
Since the items are separate paragraphs, I then have to manually add extra lines in the document. I know I can add extra lines to the outline, but is there a way to save this step? Is there a way to export this so that a new item is automatically separated from the preceding one by an empty line?
I’m wondering what export to Markdown looks like - and whether it treats paragraphs better.
The only markdown export option I saw was OPML, and that didn’t fix it. I’ve noticed something else, however. Even if I create empty lines between items the exported .rtf or .doc does not show them. And if I use Option-Enter to add an empty line at the end of an item, they still don’t show up in the exported document. I still get paragraphs bunched up against each other without any space between them.
The only way I’ve found to get an empty line separating paragraphs is by exporting to plain text. Then I get it. Weird.
@rob could you post a screenshot of your original OO outline ? Or perhaps better post the actual OO test file ?
Okay. Here’s a simple 2-paragraph outline with an empty line between the two paragraphs…
Outline.tiff (1.2 MB)
And here’s what it look like exporting to .docx, .txt. and .rtf.
Export to Word.tiff (1.3 MB)
Export to Plain text.tiff (1.7 MB)
Export to rtf.tiff (2.0 MB)
What ‘view’ are you using in Word? ie first checked item in View menu.
FWIW, I am getting empty paragraphs when I open my own exports
Aside: I use ‘paragraph spacing’ within Word rather than adding blank lines. To see what I mean, select some paragraphs of text and type ⌘-0 (command-zero). The selection should get 12 points of space added above each paragraph.
It can also be set in the ‘home’ ribbon in the ‘paragraph indents and spacing’ section (or via menus, the Format > Paragraph… dialogue on the Indents and Spacing tab).
You can adjust the amount of added space both above and below a paragraph.
I’d also recommend contacting Omni (from Help menu) if you can’t figure out what’s going on.
This is helpful - thanks.
I’m opening up the document in Pages, so Command-zero doesn’t work. It appears I have to select the paragraphs, then open the Inspector to Format/Style/Spacing and manually add 12 points to “After Paragraph”. But that is certainly better than manually inserting paragraphs. So thank you.
My pleasure. At least it’s something.
Pages (at least my version) is not a good app.
In Word, you could set the style or just add some lines automatically.
Hi Rob, this is my preferred method, Command A then adjust spacing before and after paragraphs. The style pane is useful then to make global changes with a few clicks if you change your mind. IMO adding lines is a work around and inconvenient and does not easily allow consistent changes to be applied to the entire document. But any heading styles would have to be applied separately in the style pane.
