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Re: How to Modify Mathematica 7 Documentation Center Default Styles

  • To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
  • Subject: [mg106449] Re: How to Modify Mathematica 7 Documentation Center Default Styles
  • From: David Reiss <dbreiss at gmail.com>
  • Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:56:45 -0500 (EST)
  • References: <hic35o$5bg$1@smc.vnet.net> <higdjh$kf8$1@smc.vnet.net>

On Jan 11, 6:52 pm, cjg <chuck... at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 10, 12:29 am, cjg <chuck... at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > This is dedicated to all the Old-Timer who has, for what ever reason,
> > downgraded to Mathematica 7 and suffered through the process.  As
> > years go by and my eyes are getting older every day, computer screen
> > are getting better with ever smaller pixel size, default styles used
> > in Documentation Center, or DC, is absolutely unbearable.  This post
> > give instructions on how to modify the default style sheet associated
> > with various part of the DC, which includes Function Navigator and
> > Virtual Book.  Here I need to thank David Reiss for pointing out that
> > DC style is defined in Reference.nb.  On a Mac, it is located at /
> > Applications/MathematicaV7.app/SystemFiles/FrontEnd/StyleSheets/
> > Wolfram/.  For a while, I was in vain modifying HelpBrowser.nb, which
> > defines the styles used in Mathematica 5.2 Help Browser.
>
> > On a Mac, find Mathematica 7 in the Application folder.  Right click
> > it and select show package contents.  Go to the above location and
> > copy Reference and save it some where else for backup.  Now, you can
> > double click Reference to open it.  My goal here is not to completely
> > modify all the styles used in DC.  I just want to modify enough of it
> > so that most of DC is more legible on a modern computer screen for a
> > pair of old eyes.  The list of styles to modify is not intended to be
> > exhaustive.  However, it already covers over 90% the DC that we use
> > most often.
>
> > Once Reference is opened, you can modify each to your own liking.
> > Don't worry about messing anything up.  You have the original to go
> > back to.  In addition, you will not be able to save this notebook to
> > its original location.  You have to use save as command to save it
> > some where else.  Changes made at each style will be reflected
> > immediately in DC.  So, it is a good idea to open the corresponding
> > part of DC to see if you like what you see.
>
> > To change each style, locate it, open the cell group, select the first
> > cell, this one defines  the style for the screen environment, unlock
> > the cell by selecting Cell\Cell Properties\Editable, go to the Format
> > menu to make the change that suit you, reverse above steps as
> > necessary and go on to the next.  If you want to modify a part of the
> > DC that you don't know which style to change, just as I did in finding
> > the list below, you can start out by changing a suspected one to some
> > unusual color and look back at DC and see if you guess it  right or
> > not.  Change to Reference are reflected immediately in DC.  Make a
> > note of what changes you made that suite your taste.
>
> > Once you are happy with what you see in DC, save Reference.  You can'=
t
> > save it back to the original location, so save it in your own document
> > folder.  Now, quit Mathematica and copy Reference you just modified t=
o
> > replace the original in /Applications/MathematicaV7.app/SystemFiles/
> > FrontEnd/StyleSheets/Wolfram/.  Launch Mathematica and all the change=
s
> > you just made will be reflected in DC.
>
> > Here is the list in Reference that I made change to suit my own need.
> > It should be a good starting point.
>
> > Text
> > Text -> Verdana 14
>
> > Function Page Styles: define styles used in Function Navigator
> > Usage -> Verdana 14
> > Notes -> Verdana 14
> > 1ColumnTableMod -> Courier 14
> > 2ColumnTableMod -> Courier 14
> > 3ColumnTableMod -> Courier 14
> > PrimaryExampleSection ->  Verdana 12
> > ExampleText -> Verdana 14
> > ExampleSection ->  Verdana Bold 12
> > ExampleSubsection ->  Verdana Bold 12
> > SeeAlsoSection -> Verdana 12
> > SeeAlso -> Verdana Bold 12
> > Tutorials -> Verdana 14
>
> > Tutorial Page Styles: define styles used in Virtual Book
> > DefinitionBox -> Verdana 14
> > DefinitionBox3Col -> Verdana 13
> > Caption -> Helvetica 12
> > MathCaption -> Verdana 14
> > RelatedTutorialsSection -> Verdana 12
> > RelatedTutorials -> Verdana 14
> > TutorialMoreAboutSection -> Verdana 12
> > TutorialMoreAbout -> Verdana 14
> > TutorialRelatedLinksSection -> Verdana 12
> > TutorialMoreAbout -> Verdana 14
>
> > I hope you like the new look of DC.  I surely feel liberated.  Now =
I
> > can change DC window magnification back to 100% which is a much better
> > use of screen real estate.  Now, all I need to do is to figure it out
> > how to make DC windows remember its previous location and size so that
> > I don't have to change it every time!
>
> To make DC remember its window location, thanks goes to
> ihojni... at gmail.com, open Option Inspector, set the scope to Global,
> go to Global Options > Dialog Settings > HelpViewerSettings, set
> Enabled -> True.

Well, that's a nice obscure one!  Thanks for sharing it!  I would have
never figured out the meaning of it (without experimenting).  Perhaps
a better option name is in order....  :-)

--David


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