[HTMLPad 9.0] Shortcut to make a list item?

[mandy]

Hi. Is there any way to make a keyboard or right-click shortcut for applying the list item (<li>) tag to a block of text? I checked Options / Keyboard Shortcuts but that tag isn't listed there.

In my work, I often have to edit HTML pages that have existing bulleted lists, adding and editing list items as required. Visually it's easier for me to edit a block of text and THEN add it to the list, so at the moment, I have to either type in the <li> tags manually and then cut/paste the end tags (which is a pain when you're working with a lot of text)... or use the "Bulleted List" command in the toolbar, delete the list type tags, and then cut/paste the new list items into the existing list. Either way, it's cumbersome and can get a bit confusing, especially when working with large documents.

Almost every other HTML editor I've used has a shortcut for the <li> tag and/or can convert a text block into a list item without needing to create the list type tags as well... so I find it odd that HTMLPad can't. Other than that, it's an awesome editor.

[Cary]

WeBuilder has a setting which is helpful and I would imagine HTMLPad also has it. If the preferences are laid out the same way you would go to "Language Options" > "HTML". Then check the box next to "Add list item end-tags </li>" so you don't have to copy and paste in the missing end tags.

[mandy]

Thanks for the reply Cary but that's not really what I'm looking for (it's already set in my HTMLPad Preferences anyway).

I probably didn't explain myself well. What I need is a shortcut to create a list item from a block of text, ie: highlight the line, click or do a keyboard shortcut, and voila the line will be wrapped in <li></li> tags. Currently there are only shortcuts in HTMLPad to create an entire list (including the <ul> or <ol> wrapper) from a block of text... I need a shortcut that will create a list item ONLY.

[chrisjlocke]

You could do it manually by creating a snippet to add a <li> before the caret and a </li> after, but you'd have to select each line. A pain.

I wrote a quick program which may help.
http://www.creapsoft.co.uk/program/59/h ... erator.htm

Just paste your text and it will create the code. Copy it back to the clipboard. Its still a pain, but less of a pain than it was!

[mandy]

Thanks Chris, but it takes me just as long to type the codes manually so I might as well just stay with that.

Looks like I'll have to add this to Feature Requests. Shame that HTMLPad can't do it, as many other HTML editors can.

[chrisjlocke]

No probs. I thought 3 clicks might have been quicker than typing the codes.
Sorry its no use.

[mandy]

Yeah, I'm a keyboard person, so it's actually quicker to keep my hands on the keyboard than move 'em over to the mouse and back.

[chrisjlocke]

I can make the program more keyboard friendly. Maybe automatically paste when the program is started (or at least make the Paste command click when ALT P is pressed - if it doesn't already) which can 'auto generate', and therefore 'auto copy'. All you'd need to do is then alt-tab back to HTMLPad. Maybe my prog could do that too!

[syrupcore]

I do this with a snippet + keyboard shortcut all the time. If you have a list that already has opening <li> tags but no closing tags, multi-line find and replace can be a pal.

Usually, if I'm just churning through stuff it's:
shift+end to select the line (without the carriage return)
ctrl+alt+L to wrap in li tags

it goes pretty fast.