I have a file that I've been editing in Libreoffice, but I want to use a simpler and fastor editor that can still make some formatting (e.g., italicizing). It's a writing journal, nearly 90 pages; it's mostly plain text (because I used to write it with a text editor), but since I started editing it in Libreoffice, it has a few italicized words.

So I've tried rich text format, but am running into a problem with the converted file. The rich text format has preserved the italicized words, but many words in the file have lost the spaces between them so they look like "half thewords inthefile havelost the spaces betweenthem." (Looks like William Shatner wrote it.)

In case it was a problem converting specifically ODT to RTF, I tried converting the ODF to a Microsoft Word document, then converting the .DOC to an RTF. Same result.

I also tried to "cheat" by copying and pasting the entire text of the file in Libreoffice into a blank file in my rich text editor. That almost worked, except the handful of formatted text was lost, I guess because it couldn't transfer to the clipboard.

So copying and pasting was much closer to being a solution than converting the ODF to rich text, but I'll have to remember every word I formatted and then reformat them in the rich text editor. Is there a perfect solution that won't mess up any of my text?

I'm using Ted, because I don't know any other graphical rich text editors. (I also tried Abiword for a while before deciding to experiment with rich text format, but Abiword was even slower and clumsier than Libreoffice in handling the file. I seem to remember that it crashed.)

This is all because I got tired of sacrificing the ability to format words for the speed and simplicity of always using a plain text editor. I suppose if I just went back, the problem would disappear.

Try saving it from Libreoffice Writer as straight text and then cut/paste from the text file, if not be able to just edit that new file directly from your RTF editor.

Other things to consider are to take ALL formatting out of it first. Select all the text and change it to be like COURIER NORMAL, remove all italics, bold, superscript, subscript, remove any references like footnotes. Make a copy before you do these things so that any experimentations don't cost you.

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If you have Playonlinux installed look around for a freeware programme called Word Tabs. This programme saves in RTF, it isn't a large programme so it won't take up a lot of room on the hard disk. I have used it in the past with Wine and POL.

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Have you tried opening the LibreOffice file directly in your new word processor?

Otherwise, you might just have to lose the italics that you have (sorry).

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Further to my reply, I should have added that 90 pages is quite a lot of pages. As a trained Technical Writer, I would advise on smaller sized files and that it's better to save around 20 or less in a file. One can of course always link these files and you will find it easier to work with.

I'm sure I tried that at some point, before I experimented with RTF...just opening the .ODW in Abiword.

I just learned something new. I simply supposed a full-featured word processor could handle a large file. Because if they can't, what are you supposed to do if (as I am) you're writing a long-chaptered book or any kind of work that doesn't easily break up into such small pieces? I know writers have written their books using word processing programs for decades, of course, so I thought the programs could accommodate them by now. Butanyway, I'll attempt to break up my file.

are you sure the spaces are actually lost, or could this be a font (spacing) problem?

try ctrl+a on the whole converted rtf file, then choose a commonly used font.

1. For Linux Softmaker Office has a FreeOffice Suite. I have it installed and from time to time found it useful. http://www.freeoffice.com/en/ While it's not as comprehensive as the big boys, it has useful tools.

2. Regarding large files, yes Word Processors can handle them, but Murphy's Law sometimes comes into play with them.

Good Luck with your book!

I also agree with ondoho about font spacing problem, this can arise. However if you have the non-printable show/hide formatting marks then it's the way that Linux is opening and showing your Word Processor. Some Word Processors reduce the spaces between the fonts. I have had this problem also. Can you take a snapshot of the page or part of it and upload it. I would like to have a look at the actual page. Please show the hidden formatting marks.
Moshe