Editor with Synchronized Comments Page?

[tomos]

Was titled: "Editor w. Facing Pages: Text Left, Commentray Right (?)"

I'm sure this must exist, but my search fu didnt find it:

Looking for an editor where I can view two facing pages, just as if I were reading a book.
If I write, or paste, a longer text in, I want it to show only on one side (ideally I could choose which side). I then want to be able to comment/annotate on the other side, i.e. the facing page.

• Would need to be able to export, or save to a file format that can be read elsewhere
• Ideally unicode
• Just text would be okay, but formatting would be nice

[wraith808]

So you're not really looking for an editor with facing pages.  You're looking for an editor with a synchronized comments page?

[tomos]

You're looking for an editor with a synchronized comments page?

-wraith808 (February 14, 2017, 08:23 AM)

Yes
(will edit thread title)

[wraith808]

Is it necessary that it have a contiguous page?  i.e. can comments be associated with the text that you're actually editing rather than be a page?

[tomos]

Is it necessary that it have a contiguous page?

-wraith808 (February 14, 2017, 10:38 AM)

For what I have in mind, yes, I would need the full page.
If you have other suggestions though, throw them out there.

I could always do it manually: page-break; blank page for commentary; page-break; etc.
Just thought something like this would exist, but maybe not.

Another option might be some layout programme: but they generally have a steep learning curve...

[wraith808]

Is it necessary that it have a contiguous page?

-wraith808 (February 14, 2017, 10:38 AM)

For what I have in mind, yes, I would need the full page.
If you have other suggestions though, throw them out there.

-tomos (February 14, 2017, 11:09 AM)

No, I was just trying to see the actual requirements, as I know that Word and Google Docs allow you to comment on the text of the document in the sidebar, but it's not contiguous, and each is its own issue to resolve.

[MilesAhead]

After a quick search I did not see any editor that associates comments with files and sync scrolls or whatnot.  But I did see in Vim you can sync scroll split screen with a file in each window.  If you come up with some way of opening both files in split mode via the command line perhaps you can come up with a scheme to derive the comment filename from the source filename and semi automate it.

This page gives an intro to sync scroll commands using Vim:
http://stackoverflow...the-same-time-in-vim

[tomos]

After a quick search I did not see any editor that associates comments with files and sync scrolls or whatnot.  But I did see in Vim you can sync scroll split screen with a file in each window.  If you come up with some way of opening both files in split mode via the command line perhaps you can come up with a scheme to derive the comment filename from the source filename and semi automate it.

This page gives an intro to sync scroll commands using Vim:
http://stackoverflow...the-same-time-in-vim

-MilesAhead (February 14, 2017, 12:39 PM)

thanks Miles:
I'd probably look at a page layout programme before I'd go that route --
in a layout programme you can get the text to flow from page 1 to 3 to 5 and use the pages between for commentary.
Or simply going the manual page-break route in a regular word processor would be more manageable.

[MilesAhead]

After a quick search I did not see any editor that associates comments with files and sync scrolls or whatnot.  But I did see in Vim you can sync scroll split screen with a file in each window.  If you come up with some way of opening both files in split mode via the command line perhaps you can come up with a scheme to derive the comment filename from the source filename and semi automate it.

This page gives an intro to sync scroll commands using Vim:
http://stackoverflow...the-same-time-in-vim

-MilesAhead (February 14, 2017, 12:39 PM)

thanks Miles:
I'd probably look at a page layout programme before I'd go that route --
in a layout programme you can get the text to flow from page 1 to 3 to 5 and use the pages between for commentary.
Or simply going the manual page-break route in a regular word processor would be more manageable.

-tomos (February 14, 2017, 12:55 PM)

My usage of word processing and/or office/publishing software is nearly zero(if not below zero) so I just thought I'd take a shot at a lucky search.  It seems I was way off target this time.   

What you described sounds useful though.  I am surprised there isn't an editor with that feature.

[tomos]

^ I'm grateful for all suggestions -- but was a bit brutal in my rejection there

Wonder what translators use, must have a look in that direction..
EDIT: another one it's difficult to search for -- I get software that translates.

[wraith808]

What do you need in your editor pane?  i.e. what kind of formatting, or just plain text?

[tomos]

What do you need in your editor pane?  i.e. what kind of formatting, or just plain text?

-wraith808 (February 14, 2017, 03:57 PM)

Plain is fine. Formatting would be a bonus -- but not at all necessary.

[wraith808]

A couple of choices for you:

Notepad++

http://www.makeuseof...s-beginners-windows/

Atom

https://discuss.atom...nes-by-content/11745

Sublime Text

There are a couple of packages that sync scrolls between views.

https://packagecontr...Sync%20View%20Scroll
https://packagecontr...d%20File%20Scrolling

The weaknesses of all of these methods is (a) the files will not be related, and (b) they're all plain text, though you can use markdown and a tool (likke my own markdownbuddy) to shownthe formatted document in a different window.

[tomos]

^ those are pretty cool features,
but like I was saying to Miles (or trying to), it would be more efficient to simply manually edit a word processor file, pasting/typing OG text on one side, and commentary on the other. My aim is to produce a file in the end that would read like a book.

[MilesAhead]

^ I'm grateful for all suggestions -- but was a bit brutal in my rejection there

-tomos (February 14, 2017, 03:55 PM)

Not at all.  I thought you were being patient with someone not conversant with that particular branch of software.  No worries mate, as the Aussies say.   

[tomos]

No worries mate, as the Aussies say

-MilesAhead (February 14, 2017, 06:40 PM)

cheers mate ;-)

[..] I thought you were being patient with someone not conversant with that particular branch of software.

-MilesAhead (February 14, 2017, 06:40 PM)

no, this branch might not even exist...