The Journal Newsletter
Introduction
Happy Memorial Day!
We have a new “How I Use The Journal” this month, by Walt Podushko, and a couple new writing prompts. The tip this month describes how to use The Journal with languages that write/type right-to-left.
Thank you for using The Journal!
The Journal News
The Journal 7 is the current release.
To see if you have the latest version of The Journal:
- Click on the “Help” menu in The Journal.
- Choose “Check for Update of The Journal”.
If you are using The Journal 6 (or an earlier version):
Tips & Tricks
TIP: Using The Journal with Right-to-Left Languages
To set up The Journal for right-to-left typing:
First, The Journal needs to be told to use bi-directional editing. Click on the User menu, and choose User Preferences. On the “Editor” tab, check the option: “Force Bidirectional Editing (global option)”
Second, you need to change the default font. For each category, set the default text style to be right-to-left. Click on the Category menu and choose “Change Default Font for “. On the Paragraph tab, check the option “Edit Right-to-Left”. You might also need to change the default font face to one that supports your language.
Once those two steps are done, you will be able to type right-to-left in your entries.
If you need to switch to left-to-right typing, for example to type in English, toggle right-to-left to left-to-right by pressing: Ctrl+Shift+H
When you want to go back to your normal language, press Ctrl+Shift+H again.
Whether text is left-to-right or right-to-left is set on each paragraph. The hot-key above turns it on or off for the active or selected paragraphs.
Writing Prompts
Free Writing Prompt – Write for 20 minutes using the following as your starter: “The woman knew too much”
Free Writing Prompt – Write for 20 minutes using the following as your starter: “I’ve never been in a hot air balloon”
How I Use The Journal
Editor’s Note: The Journal is used by people from all over the world, from many nations, representing a variety of personal, professional, and religious backgrounds. Journaling is by definition an intensely personal undertaking, so it should not be surprising that when someone writes about how or why they keep a journal that they will end up sharing personal information. The Journal Newsletter does not support any particular personal or religious lifestyle, but rather attempts to support anyone who keeps a journal, for whatever reason they do so. Thus, the views and opinions expressed in “How I Use The Journal” are solely those of the submitter and not necessarily the views of DavidRM Software. Whether you agree with the submitter’s views or not, I encourage you to read the article and glean from it the information and techniques that “ring true” for you.
by Walt Podushko
I am in the later stages of multiple sclerosis with a great many severe symptoms that make life greatly disorganized. I’ve spent years looking for solutions and especially since I started suffering short term memory loss. That made some sort of organizing system absolutely necessary. There are many systems out there, most are web based now and have a monthly charge but I finally came across The Journal and decided to give it a try.
I was absolutely amazed at how flexible The Journal was and how easy it was to use. I got a trial copy and tried out as many features as I could. I liked the idea of being able to set up more then 1 calendar. I have 1 set up as a personal diary and another set up to track dates of important purchases, like my computer, expiry dates of warranties etc. A 3rd calendar is up for recording my daily medical history so I can track how I’ve been doing from day to day.
The notebook pages are the ones I use the most. They are so easy to keep track of because each category has a tab and it’s easy to set up a linked index because the pages support insertion of links and photo. I have individual notebooks for:
* Music – with a separate page for songs I like that includes the lyrics, a link to YouTube for my listening pleasure and links to web pages with additional information. As I collect songs, I start and index page that gives me a quick link to each song page.
* To Do Notebook – with separate pages for a list of immediate to do’s, future projects and individual projects that require detailed information
* Medical notebook – with individual pages with a full description of the medicines I take and a separate page of medical links on the Internet
* Tutorials – Pages of Tutorials on programs I use on the computer
* Library – Separate pages for poetry I like, poetry I’ve attempted to write
* Photo Album – self explanatory
Additional notebooks and calendars keeping track of Recipes, miscellaneous notes, registrations
In general, The Journal can keep a file on anything you can think of and make it easy to find anytime you need it. It’s a giant filing cabinet where you can file and log almost anything you can think of. Myself, I can’t think of anything I can’t store here and I can find everything that I do.
Submission Information
If you would like to contribute to the “How I Use The Journal”, “Writing Exercises”, or “Tips & Tricks” sections, or would like to submit an article about journaling, writing, or another The Journal-related topic, we would love to hear from you.
Submissions for the newsletter should be sent to: support@davidrm.com
If you are submitting for a particular section, please indicate which one. Try to limit your submissions to 500-1000 words. Submissions may be edited for length and content.
If you prefer to remain anonymous, please state this in the email. Otherwise your name (but not your email) will be used in the article heading.
As always, if you have any suggestions for, or bug reports about, The Journal, please feel free to email them. Both are always welcome.