Comp25: Using TextEdit for Mac 

TextEdit

TextEdit is a simple, open source word processor and text editor for Mac.  It is included as part of the OSx operating system. TextEdit is a highly versatile word processor, including tools to format and layout your page, edit and stylize text, check spelling, create tables and lists, import graphics, work with HTML, and even add music and movie files.

It is very important, however, when coding strictly in HTML that you save your TextEdit file in text format, and not in RTF (Rich Text Format) or else your pages will not display properly in the browser. If TextEdit is prompting you to save the file as RTF and not allowing you to save as text, follow the steps below.  You only have to do this once, when you first save the file, and from then on, it'll work transparently.

Saving TextEdit as Text Files

1. In TextEdit, you'll type in some HTML and have a window that looks like this:
   1. 
2. This is not good because the program wants to work with Rich Text Format, not plain text (the ruler is the giveaway).
   1. To fix that, go to Format | Make Plain Text  It should look like the sample below: (Note there is no formatting toolbar or ruler)
      
      
3. Now, almost done (and you only have to go through this once: once the file is properly named, TextEdit will remember for future edit sessions).
   1. Choose File --> Save As... and type in a filename that includes a ".html" filename extension:
      
      
   2. If your Plain Text Excoding does not default to Western (Mac OS Roman) you will need to click on the drop down menu and pick that option from the list.
   3. 
   4.  Click Save, though, and now you get this:
      
      
   5. Click "Use .html"
   6. You only have to do this once, when you first save the file, and from then on, it'll work transparently.
4. Before closing your file, there are two additional settings to change to ensure that after you view your webpage in an Internet Browser, you will still be able to edit it with Text Edit. 
5. Left Click on Text Edit and then Left Click on Preferences.

6. Ensure that the New Document Tab is highlighted.  Under the Format options, change the default setting from Rich Text to Plain Text.

7. Ensure that the Open and Save Tab is highlighted.  Under the When Opening a File options, check the box next to "Ignore rich text commands in HTML files." 

8. To set your Plain Text Encoding preference, ensure that the Open and Save Tab is highlighted.  Under HTML Saving Options, click on the drop-down menu and choose Western (Mac OS Roman).

9. Close the Preferences window.  Your preference changes will be saved automatically.   
10. To open the file in TextEdit mode again for editing in pure text mode,  Control-Click on the file name and choose:
    1. Open With
    2. TextEdit