Looking for way to have list with check boxes

[content]

My objective: is to have a 12- or 15-entry checklist on a single page where the checkboxes are highlighted with yellow centers. So far, I have identified two possibilities:

1. Use a picture that I insert at the beginning of each entry.

2. Use TextMaker's AutoShape feature to place a suitable checkbox shape at the beginning of each entry.

My testing, thus far, has shown problems with the position of the resulting boxes. They definitely need to align with the lines of text (plus, shift if the text changes).

I have a copy of the 600+ page TextMaker 2021 Manual, but I can’t find an overview of how inserted pictures are supposed to be positioned with respect to accompanying text. Likewise, there is very little abut how to use AutoShapes.

Attached is a short example (prepared with a graphics package) of the result I’m after.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

attempt at yellow check boxes.png (5.84 KiB) Viewed 859 times

[Jossi]

I recommend using form objects to achieve this. Go to Object > New form object > Checkbox..., insert a checkbox and choose yellow as background colour via Format > Character. Then you can copy and paste it as often as you want. As the checkbox is treated by the program like a letter, there are no problems with aligning and wandering with the text. The only disadvantage is that the yellow background colour extends a bit beyond the checkbox borders.
In the attached example I have chosen a font size of 14 pt for the checkboxes and 11 pt for the text to make the boxes look a bit more prominent.

checkboxes.tmdx

(13.54 KiB) Downloaded 28 times

[content]

Thanks for your reply.

Indeed, it does work. I downloaded your example, but the background yellow is a little much.

Is there a way for me to use AutoShapes in the same manner? I've experimented with the AutoShape box with rounded corners and yellow fill. It gives the correct appearance. But I just can't move it downward on the line.

[Jossi]

Of course it can also be done with AutoShapes. A bit more manual adjustment will be necessary.
Proceed als follows:
1. Type all the entries (each one in a new paragraph).
2. Change to Object mode (View > Object mode).
3. Go to Object > New drawing > Rounded rectangle.
4. Draw a rectangle with the approximate size.
5. Right-click the rectangle and choose "Properties..."
6. Define the exact size in tab "Format", the fill colour in tab "Fill" and the border in tab "Lines".
7. Position the rectangle in its exact place at the beginning of the first paragraph. This is best done by using the keyboard arrows (Shift+Arrow = bigger steps, Cmd+Arrow = smaller steps).
8. When the rectangle is in position, right-click and choose "Properties...", tab "Layout".
9. Set the horizontal and the vertical position to "Left/Relative to paragraph" and "Top/Relative to paragraph", Text wrapping to "Square", Object to "Move with text" and When object is moved to "Move anchor to the nearest paragraph" and click OK.
10. Duplicate the rectangle as many times as you need it via Object > Duplicate. (It is recommended to define a keyboard shortcut for this function first via Tools > Customise. To invoke the function fifteen times with the mouse is rather tiresome.) The position of the duplicated rectangles doesn't matter.
NB: It is important to use the "Duplicate" function, not Copy & Paste. With C&P not all properties will be carried over correctly.
11. Select the last copied (uppermost) rectangle and position it at the beginning of the last paragraph.
12. With the mouse, draw a rectangle that comprises all the checkboxes (they are all selected now).
13. Go to Object > Align and distribute > Align left.
14. Go to Object > Align and distribute > Distribute vertically.
15. All checkboxes should be in the right position now. If not, correct the position of single boxes with the arrrow keys.
16. Change back to Edit mode.

All boxes will now be anchored to their respective paragraphs and will keep position if text is inserted before the checkbox list.

[content]

Excellent points.

I had already experimented with text frames and with using the drawing function. In that way, I'm able to lasso each entry (with the yellow checkbox) and move it up/down. By lassoing several entries, I get to position them without getting entangled in line spacing.

The points you've listed have added to the whole approach. But the main thing (for me) is that I'm using a method that's firmly on TextMaker's "pavement" (and not some odd concoction that appears to work, but gets derailed by other actions ... like printing to a PDF file.)

Thanks again for your help.