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====== Anatomy of an Index Card ======

{{:lostplot:manual:indexcard_0001.jpg?400 |}}The __Index Card__ is the basic unit within a project. It is used to initially plan the structure of a project, manipulation of their position allows planning of the events, entry of basic details gives information as to when and where an event is taking place, while completion of an index card's __Content__ develops the project into a final authored work.


For the majority of time, two text fields are used to understand when and where an index card is important in the project: the __Title__ field at the top of the card, and the __Summary__ field which takes up the majority of the card. Both of these fields can be edited directly by simply clicking in that area. Both are technically of unlimited length, but logic dictates what you should store there: the title field should be short and succinct, while the summary field can be used for larger notes and references, with the initial top text (which will be visible most of the time) summarising what the card is for.

As work progresses on the project however, you will use more of the index card's capabilities. These capabilities allow you to categorise the card into known story arcs, move the card to reorder the events in your story, add new index cards, and edit the actual authored __Content__ of your document.

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==== Currently Selected Card ====

The currently selected card (i.e. the card that is being edited) is indicated in two ways:

  - The overall colour of the card is stronger (e.g. strong orange rather than pale orange, if the Orange arc is selected)
  - The **[△ △ △ △ △]** symbols at the bottom of the card.

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==== Card Selection ====

A check-box is located in the top left hand corner of all index cards. By itself, checking this box does nothing but allows the author to select one or more cards in a range for other //block// operations such as the [Insert Before] and [Insert After] icons (see below).

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==== Story Arc ====

The __Arc__ colour is the only aspect of an //individual// Index Card which is controlled by the main toolbar menu, and not a control on the card itself.

In order to set a specific arc colour for an index card, first select the card by clicking in the title or summary area.

Switch to the [Cards] toolbar tab if not already there, then click the [Arc] toolbar icon to display the list of available arc colours. If you have configured the project using the [Main] > [Config] toolbar icon, this list will also include any customised tags that are attached to the colours (e.g. Red (Peter's Arc) ).

Selecting one of the colours from the menu will change the overall colour scheme of the selected Index Card, effectively placing it into that story arc. As well as a visual indicator, the [Range] toolbar icon can be used to select only individual arcs for display at a time, streamlining the development of that arc.

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==== Move Back and Forward ====

The [Move Back] **[⇠]** and [Move Forward] **[⇢]** icons are represented by dotted-arrows on either side of the environment label.

By clicking the **[⇠]** and **[⇢]** icons, you can move the //individual// index card backwards and forwards within the displayed list.

Special Note: Only when the entire Index Card matrix is displayed without an applied __Range__ is it //guaranteed// that a card will move exactly 1 place forwards or backwards. Whenever a __Range__ is selected, the cards to either side of the selected card may be (in the larger scheme) in very different locations to that on-screen. In this case, moving an index card back or forward will move the card to the position //before// the previous card (wherever that card happens to be) or //after// the next card (again, wherever that card happens to be).

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==== Increase and Decrease Width or Height ====

The Increase / Decrease Width ( **[↤]** and **[↦]** ) and the Increase / Decrease Height ( **[↥]** and **[↧]** ) icons re-size the current index card by 25 pixels at a time, on an //individual card// basis (i.e. the other cards retain their own individual dimensions). By using these icons, the new width and height become the //normal// width and height for that card and are updated and re-loaded whenever the project is closed / opened.

Applying a temporary size change (see Single Row and Double-Size, below) and then removing it will return the card to the last //normal// size set by these icons and not the default 250x250 pixel initial card size.

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==== Double-Size Index Card ====

The double-size icon **[⇲]** (**[⇱]** when toggled) in the bottom right hand corner of the index card toggles between the current normal size of the card (250x250 pixels, if unmodified) and 500x500 pixels. This size increase is intended for the temporary viewing of more of the __Summary__ field of the card, during initial development.

For between planning, it is recommended that the card is toggled back to its normal size for proper understanding of the card matrix.

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==== Insert Before and Insert After ====

Using the [Insert Before] **[⇜]** and [Insert After] **[⇝]** icons requires the prior selection (using the checkbox in the top left hand corner of a card) of one or more cards //other// than the card on which the icon is pressed.

When selecting the **[⇜]** or **[⇝]** icons, the full range of selected cards is moved to the immediate left or right of the card on which the icon was selected, in the order that they appear in the overall matrix.

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==== Continue Index Card ====

Selecting the [Continuation] **[⇉]** icon creates a new index card immediately following the card on which the icon was clicked. This operation is called [Continuation] as it is assumed that the new card is a continuation of the current story arc, and is therefore created with the same conditions (e.g. selected arc colour) as the current card.

==== Editing a Card ====

Clicking the **[☰]** icon allows the author to edit the details of the card.

Clicking the **[📇]** icon allows the author to start a __Writer__ dialog, initially displaying the __Content__ of the selected card.

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