The feedback has been mixed since we introduced our in-house Creation Editor. Despite being much more stable and reliable, much needs improvement.
Also, since you are reading this, we want you to put suggestions or share your issues, problems, bugs, etc., in the comment section.
Behind the scenes, we at #Milyin have been working on version 2 of the editor. Today, we will discuss the issues/difficulties you are facing with the editor.
Quick requests from our side:
- Please do not repeat issues that are already mentioned here
- Be specific in explaining the issue, "once it was not working" is not a legitimate description that can be used to reproduce the issue.
- While we love to hear your thoughts for future of Milyin, here we are focusing on issues, bugs, problems, inconveniences, etc. Do NOT say like "Milyin should support Podcasts". We will do that someday, but now's not the time.
In the last 3 months, we have been talking to our top Creators, to discuss and understand what more they need.
Below we will be discussing some of the main changes
- Undo/Redo: After using it for a while, we believe undo/redo is not nearly as accurate as it should be, often missing out on various details in the middle, kindly try to improve it. This is quite important.
- Backspace: In the last version, we built the ability to press enter in the middle of the para to split it into two paras. Now, we need backspace to join paras. So, if at the start of a para, I do backspace and combine it with the previous para/heading. The same goes for backspacing lists as well.
- Pressing Enter at the start of the para: Clicking enter at the start of a para should move the para to the next row. Currently, it just adds another para before it, which is not ideal.
- Table Rows/Columns Up/Down/Left/Right: You made incredible tools for creating tables. I also need the ability to move the individual rows/columns up/down left/right. Perhaps look into building right-click functionality.
- Pasting doesn’t work. In various blocks like tables, the pasting functionality just doesn’t work. You cannot paste anything, it's horrible. The same goes for URLs in <a>, li, and more.
- Selection: I cannot select text across multiple blocks, multiple <td>, or multiple <li>. This is for copy/pasting functionality.
- Draggable Blocks: In the quick bar for each block, we need a button to hold the block and drag it up and down with proper animation and visual cues, this should allow for easy block movement.
- Selecting Blocks: Continuing to the point of pasting blocks, I want to be able to select single or multiple blocks. Just like we select messages on WhatsApp or any other app, we should be able to select boxes and then get options to copy, delete, or move the blocks. Deleting is obvious; moving is basically drag and drop but for multiple blocks.
- Paste Images to Upload: We need the same process for all usual blocks when a user pastes content, but if an image is detected, upload it to our server and add the received image from the server to the block. A placeholder image can be inserted in the block while we upload the actual image. You would have to discuss with me about how we can build functions in JS to accommodate this.
- Catch-all Block: We have discussed this in the past as well, if a block is unrecognized it should still get the tools and ability to be converted to regular blocks like p, heading, etc.
- Link Generation: Link generation for hashtags and mentions is extremely buggy. Sometimes let’s say I am typing @Obaro and I mistype @Obaa, then I press backspace, and the system automatically converts it @Oba into hashtags. Furthermore, in pasted content, it never really converts to hashtags. I think you need to implement continuous rechecks to ensure any wrong/undetected hashtags/mentions can be corrected. Also, we allow underscore hyphens, and decimals in our hashtags, building recognition for the same.
- Table insertion: A visual method is needed to insert a table. Rather than having to type, just show a grid with the ability to select the desired number of rows/columns.
- Font Size Selector: Self-explanatory
- Font Family Selector: Currently, this works on the block level, making it work on the text selection level.
- Emoji Support: Button to show all available emojis. Simple IG.
- Shortcuts: Support for Shortcuts like CTRL+K for Links. Industry-standard Shortcuts for Left/Right/Center are also needed. In addition, we also need Shortcut support for CTRL+SHIFT+F for FullScreen. Also, CTRL+SHIFT+1/2/3/4/5/6/7 for H1-6 and P.
- UL/LI initiate: If a text block starts with “1.” auto convert to <ol>. If the user presses backspace, convert back to para (backspace would mean the user doesn’t want it to be a list). Similarly, when a user starts a block with “-”, auto convert to <ul>. On the back, press converts back to the previous block type.
- Arrows: Arrows up/down should move through the text in the given block. Currently, pressing the arrow taxes the user to the other block. Also, CTRL+UP or CTRL+DOWN should move focus to UP/Down blocks.
- Moving through the cursor or up/down keys should move the focused block as well, making it active.
- Menu update when moving | H1-6 doesn't update when moving from 1 heading to another | Same goes for alignment and other things. Essentially, if I chose H1 somewhere and then moved to another block, H3, the menu would show H1 only.
- Active Block: When a block is active, its active status should be retained even when the user is typing. Right now, the UI becomes jittery when the user types.
- Lists: Right now only root-level lists can be switched between UL and OL. I would want all the child level lists to also be switchable easily. Thanks! Also, supports switching between different styles of points like bullet or disc, or Roman numerals.
- Find & Replace Support: Support to Find text in the editor, and replace it if needed. Should have support for Case Sensitive toggle, Replace, and Replace All. Again, Shortcuts CTRL+F and CTRL+H.
- Block Shortcuts: Shortcut Keys to move up and down and SHIFT the blocks up/down. I was thinking CTRL + SHIFT + UP/Down to move up/down. CTRL UP/Down to move the cursor to the upper or lower block.
- Block Cut/Copy/Paste: Using the up/down arrows to move blocks is quite tedious in bulk actions. We need support to cut and paste entire blocks via buttons.
- Separate Toolbar: We need 2 separate toolbars. 1 is block-level, 1 is text-level. For all blocks, regardless of what they are, we just want up/down, convert add below, add above, add bottom, and delete buttons. But, when inside that block, the user selects text and shows a different toolbar with Bold, Italics, etc. Similarly, for images block, when the image itself is clicked shows alignment, and other buttons when the image is clicked. The Toolbars need to be like tooltips that float and are visible only when in use.
- Convert Blocks: Currently, you support block-level conversion for Headings to Para. If a given block is empty (let’s say blank para) then it should be convertible to any block like Heading, List, Code, etc. If the block has text in it, then apart from Heading/Para it should be convertible to UL as well. So every line in the block becomes a <li>.
- Default add para: When a new block is inserted directly, insert the para block, and then the user can use the convert block feature to change it to something else.
We are actively working on these 30-odd suggestions and a few others for our editor's next version.
While are developments are mostly stopped because of a shift of focus towards growth/earnings, we still want few things like these to continue development.
Some of the main things we are working on include: Editor v2, Badges for Creators, and few others.
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