Use any word processing application to cut & paste plain-text or Rich (styled) Text into the Text Import field.
The Text Import/Edit window allows you to work with text in a continuous block, as you would in any word processing program.
You can copy the source text from any application (i.e. TextEdit, Word, etc.). Then paste into the text editing area (the field on the right). Generally it's easiest to prepare the source text you are working with for use as title data in a separate word processing application such as TextEdit. Arrange text so that each separate title appears entirely on one line, with the new line character (by default the asterisk "*") placed where you want each line break to occur.
After import, you will not need blank lines in your TitleDriver data file. By default, blank lines are ignored on import.
The Import/enter text window will automatically add title numbers if necessary when you click the Import button. You cannot enter title numbers in this window's number column, but you may view existing numbers in order to align to an existing column.
Once you have completed importing the text, each title is stored in a separate cell, so editing blocks of text becomes difficult. You may use the Text Import window to re-edit existing text by simply copying it from the left-hand field ("Compare to existing text") and pasting it into the text field on the right. Make your edits, then re-import the text into the same column, save the file, and your update is complete. Note that this method discards text styles (i.e. bold, italic, or underline).
If you're encountering problems when pasting text into the text import field, especially when using older or non-standard text data formats, try using TextEdit as a go-between: Create a new blank document in TextEdit and paste the text to be imported into that window first. Then re-copy the text and paste it into TitleDriver's text import field.
The Import/enter text window does support importing styled text (i.e. RTF or rich text format) however sometimes your source material may create problems which confuse the import process. In that case, you may use the method outlined above to convert to plaintext, or right click (or control-click) on the Text Import field and choose "Paste as plaintext."
The left-hand field in the Import/enter text window is used to compare the text you're importing with other text columns. Use the popup menu above the "Compare to existing text" area to select a column of data that is already present. Order the text you're importing to align with existing text. Note that the text you have pasted into the text import field might be sized differently than the existing text, making proper alignment difficult to judge. Text size is ignored when importing text, but you may need to resize the text before copying in order for it to appear at the same size as existing text when pasted into the text import field.
The Import Text function is fairly basic, in that it will always begin creating new titles at the top of the file and will over-write current text if any exists. So the Import function alone cannot be used to append or insert new titles into an existing file.
You are however free to copy existing text from the left-most column and paste it back into the Import Text field and then insert or append new data. When you import this new (or differently ordered) block of text, the new TitleDriver data will have the existing title numbers (if any) and will create a new sequence of title numbers where needed.
There is a function in the Edit menu of the Import Text window which automates a few tedious tasks for those converting English libretto text into supertitles.
Traditionally, GIlbert & Sullivan light opera companies will display their supertitles in longer form, up to five lines of text. The automated preperatory function processes text that has been pasted into the Import Text area and removes capitalized character names and formatting (indentations etc.) and delivers prepared text that has asterisks inserted for line breaks. It will still be necessary to edit out stage directions and formatting anomalies, but this function should give you a good head start on the task.
See the Import window's Edit menu >Prepare standard libretto text command.
Paste text into the Import Text area, use the Prepare standard libretto text command, and then complete the editing process as you normally would before using the Import function to create new titles.
Next: Editing titles