Quoting a post turns it all into italics - WHY?

[ERD50]

When I quote a post, it obliterates the formatting and turns it all into italics.

This seems unnecessary, the quote box itself provides the visual feedback that the text is quoted. I just quoted someone who used italics in their message, and my quoting of them loses the emphasis that the OP intended.

Example here - compare my quote of the post with the original text of the post:

In the original ("Count me as one who does see something wrong with this."), the "does" was italicized.

http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...0&postcount=56

So, can the quote operation retain the formatting of the OP? I think this would be much better.

Thanks - ERD50

[RonBoyd]

Yeah. I also dislike not being unable to change formatting such as Bold and Underlining in this process. The only work-around I've found is to retype that portion and delete the original.

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd Yeah. I also dislike not being unable to change formatting such as Bold and Underlining in this process. The only work-around I've found is to retype that portion and delete the original.

It doesn't seem to stop me from changing the formatting once I've quoted someone.

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan It doesn't seem to stop me from changing the formatting once I've quoted someone.

Yeah. I should have been a little more descriptive. This (the inability to change "Bold" or "underlining") happens when I import text with cut and paste from (for instance) a NYTimes article. Thank goodness I can change the font size. This also happens, I notice, outside of the quote function.

In any event, I have the same complaint as the OP.

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd Yeah. I should have been a little more descriptive. This (the inability to change "Bold" or "underlining") happens when I import text with cut and paste from (for instance) a NYTimes article. Thank goodness I can change the font size. This also happens, I notice, outside of the quote function. In any event, I have the same complaint as the OP.

I have run a few experiments and determined that you can, in fact, change color, font, underline and bold within quoted material from the post to which you are replying, as well as on "copy and pasted material from the NYT. Like this one from today's NYT

Then, in early evening, Günter Schabowki, a Communist party leader, startled everyone by announcing at a televised news conference that travel restrictions would be loosened and a simple visa procedure introduced to allow East Germans to visit the West. Asked when, he (poorly briefed, as we now know) fumbled: “Immediately.”

I have not yet unlocked the secret as to why quoted posts appear in italics, nor how to work around that.

[W2R]

From the NY Times,

Quote:

Justices Weigh Life in Prison for Youths Who Never Killed By ADAM LIPTAK Published: November 7, 2009 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — There are just over 100 people in the world serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for crimes they committed as juveniles in which no one was killed. All are in the United States. And 77 of them are here in Florida.

I didn't really have any problem in bolding and underlining in the above, which I copied/pasted from www.nytimes.com . The only problem that I had was that I had to delete some advertising that I picked up when I did it (between the title and the article).

Edited to add: Ah!! Gumby and I had the same thought. GMTA

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire From the NY Times, I didn't really have any problem in bolding and underlining in the above, which I copied/pasted from www.nytimes.com . The only problem that I had was that I had to delete some advertising that I picked up when I did it (between the title and the article). Edited to add: Ah!! Gumby and I had the same thought. GMTA

Okay, I am still explaining it poorly. I was unable to (quickly) find the article from your link but...

I have the problem when the imported text is already formatted in "Bold" and "Underlining." I have no problem formating the imported text itself (except for the unformating of imported Bold and/or underlined text.)

I don't have time right now to pursue it further... I will capture what takes place the next time it happens.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd Okay, I am still explaining it poorly. I was unable to (quickly) find the article from your link but... I have the problem when the imported text is already formatted in "Bold" and "Underlining." I have no problem formating the imported text itself (except for the unformating of imported Bold and/or underlined text.) I don't have time right now to pursue it further... I will capture what takes place the next time it happens.

I know what you are talking about. Some stuff quoted from external sites seems to have 'sticky' formatting. It happens sporadically, so I won't be able to duplicate it until I see it happen. I have a theory though - the font used might be one that only has a bold version. I've noticed that with some fonts on my Mac - so you can't un-bold them since there is no related 'regular' font (I guess, I don't really understand font management).

If I really needed a work-around, I copy the text into a word processor, convert it to plain text, then paste into the forum, then choose the font and formatting I need. Whew (easier done than typed)!

-ERD50

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd This (the inability to change "Bold" or "underlining") happens when I import text with cut and paste from (for instance) a NYTimes article. Thank goodness I can change the font size. This also happens, I notice, outside of the quote function.

I believe you can wipe out most formatting by highlighting the text and clicking on the "remove format" button shown below. It doesn't address the italics issue (I have no clue on that one) but it will allow you to then modify the text as you wish (remove bold, etc.) .

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo I believe you can wipe out most formatting by highlighting the text and clicking on the "remove format" button shown below. It doesn't address the italics issue (I have no clue on that one) but it will allow you to then modify the text as you wish (remove bold, etc.) .

Oh! That makes sense. That icon was hidden on my computer, I guess, although it is in full view now.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBoyd Oh! That makes sense. That icon was hidden on my computer, I guess, although it is in full view now.

Actually, I don't think that works with certain kinds of fonts/formatting. I know I tried it as I do use that button from time to time. Some formatting just stubbornly seems to resist being "unformatted".



But it seems rare, I can't dup it with the few sites I tried, just gonna have to remember to post here when/if it happens again.

-ERD50

[RonBoyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 Actually, I don't think that works with certain kinds of fonts/formatting. I know I tried it as I do use that button from time to time. Some formatting just stubbornly seems to resist being "unformatted". But it seems rare, I can't dup it with the few sites I tried, just gonna have to remember to post here when/if it happens again.

Even more interesting, I just had it happen when responding to another post. Then I couldn't duplicate it when posting to this thread. I tried both with a "new" post and with a "quote" one doing exactly what I did earlier -- no joy.

I give up.

[Janet H]

I'm fairly certain the italicized text in the quote box is hard coded and I don't think you can change it using text formatting options. We do some research about a change but I'm not sure this will be possible or practical - still worth a look