In most cases, the transcript forms used contain ordinary text. However, on some occasions, there might be features of the text that benefit from limited styling, for example strike out. It is possible to enable a limited “markdown” like formatting of text in transcript fields. This feature has to be enabled for the project, via the “Project Settings” panel, which can be accessed from the cog button, located towards to lower-left corner of the Pedigree Forge main window:
The “markdown” format is similar to that used on mobile apps like WhatsApp, and also used by many programmers for documentation.
When this is enabled, the following formatting is applied:
| Feature | Example | Styled As |
|---|---|---|
| Strike out | This is ~struck out~ text. | This is |
| Bold | This is *bold* text | This is bold text |
| Italic | This is _italic_ text | This is italic text |
| Underlined | This is __underlined__ text | This is underlined text |
| Superscript | This is ^superscript^ text. | This is superscript text. |
| Larger/smaller text | This is \+ larger \- text | |
| Small-Caps | This is $Small Caps$ text. | |
| Number width space | \# | (Space the width of digits, 0 to 9) |
| Non-breaking white space | \~ | (Space that doesn’t break lines) |
| Fill gap with dots | \>. | ..................... |
| Fill gap with under bar | \>_ | _______________________ |
| Fill gap with wide dots | \>* | . . . . . . . . . . . . |
| Fill gap with space | Left\>>Right | Left Right |
| To next tab stop | \> |
If you need to use one of the “markdown” symbols as a literal character, with markdown enabled, then typing two together. For example, if you want a literal * rather than starting bold, ** will output a single *, or if you need a literal \ you will have to type \\. If the markdown feature isn’t enabled, then you don’t need to double up on the characters.
An example where this feature might be useful is the 1939 register, which often included later annotations showing married names. It is useful in the transcript to see what was original, and what was added later.
In the following example, Eileen and Joan have married after the 1939 register was taken. We use the strike out (~) and superscript (^) markdown to reflect the original as best as possible:
When a report is created, and with the markdown feature enabled, the transcript is rendered as follows:
