Markdown Discuss - Feb 2012 - Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt

Hi all,

I'm a newer user of markdown & MultiMarkdown, and I'm looking for
the
perfect setup of software for my Mac and my Android phone.  I'd like to
have my drafts editable from both.

What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily blog posts and
emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as .md or
.markdown instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true markdown
editor for Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my
phone.

I know that I could use a text-editor that is meant for programmers, but
I'm not really the proper audience.  I don't need the line counts, or
even
the fully colored syntax, and these programs aren't meant to create an
aesthetically pleasing writing experience, which I'll admit is a priority
for me.  In other words, ideally I want the equivalent of Byword or
Macchiato with the option to save as .txt.

So, are there any markdown editors for the Mac that do all the
"pretty"
things (receding the code, stylizing your text, etc) but that DON'T save as
.md or .markdown files?  Am I correct that Macchiato only saves in markdown
format?  I'd even take something like MMD Composer, with its colorized &
stylized text, if it saved in plain text format.

Are there any other Mac/Android users?  What are you doing to get around
this problem?

Thanks for any help or suggestions,
-Nicole

FYI, I have Marked, Byword, MultiMarkdown Composer, Mou, Tincta, and Clean
Writer Pro.  I'm loving Epistle for my phone, since it saves to Dropbox and
has a clean interface.  I'm trying a trial of MarkMyWords next...
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On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Nicole C <ncat999 at gmail.com>
wrote:
>
> What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily blog posts and
> emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as .md or
.markdown
> instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true markdown editor for
> Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my phone.
Is this just an issue that the Android app can't be told to open files
with different extensions?

It annoys me that so many Markdown editors won't allow for arbitrary
file extensions, though a few had come around last I looked.

c
--
Chris Lott <chris at chrislott.org>

Not sure I follow - Composer saves files in plain text, and you can use whatever
file extension you like.

And you don't have to use the default theme with solarized colors if you
want a less colorful editor window.


What does it not do in this regard that you are looking for?


Fletcher


-- 
Fletcher T. Penney
fletcher at fletcherpenney.net 

On Feb 1, 2012, at 6:48 PM, Nicole C wrote:
> So, are there any markdown editors for the Mac that do all the
"pretty" things (receding the code, stylizing your text, etc) but that
DON'T save as .md or .markdown files?  Am I correct that Macchiato only
saves in markdown format?  I'd even take something like MMD Composer, with
its colorized & stylized text, if it saved in plain text format.
> 
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If you use BBEdit you can set it to use Markdown for the default
language for txt-files (and md and markdown and ...)

- jem

I love BBEdit and Textmate as much as the next person, but those aren't
answers to the poster's question. MMD Composer is close to what the poster
is asking about, but, Fletcher, you have to type in the `txt` extension over the
proffered `md` at the save prompt. Have you considered making that a possible
preference for user's to select? There are actually a couple of iOS apps
that don't recognize the `md` extension, and so I could see this affecting
more than the current poster. I use PlainText, and I don't think I've
encountered this problem -- I can't remember now, however, if I had to
re-set some of its preferences.

While we're on the topic of MMD Composer, and I bring it up here because
this might prove an interesting conversation more generally, I'd like to
point out that in the Preferences, the question of applying italics is posed as
an either/or radio button. Luckily, in actual use the program formats both, no
matter which is checked, as italics. This is perfectly acceptable behavior for
me. I actually use the two differently: I use asterisks for emphasis, as in
marking the use of a word as a term, and I reserve underlines the titles of
works.

This makes it possible for me to use a microformat later in an adapted version
of MD/MMD. I am "rolling my own", but has any distro of MD pursued a
similar logic?

I'm going to respond to several of you here in one email, since I
unfortunately subscribed with the digest option at first:

*Chris*:  Yes, my issue is primarily caused by the lack of Android apps to
open/edit .md or .markdown files.  I'm really surprised there aren't
any.

*Fletcher:*  Your post was a mini-revelation for me!  I had assumed that
Composer (and similar apps) required the special markdown file extensions
in order to utilize all of their features.  I didn't realize that manually
entering .txt instead of the default would work just fine.  Thank you!
 This essentially solves my problem.  I'll also experiment with customizing
the syntax coloring.

I really do like MMD Composer and think the syntax coloring options are
more attractive than most out there.  The one thing I do like about
ByWord's coloring that would be nice as an option in Composer (just an
option, not default) is the immediate greying-out of the code marks while
retaining the stylized text (bolded, italicized, etc.)  It makes your text
very readable for certain projects.  But I think I could achieve much the
same thing with some creative CSS editing, if I can manage it.

*Lasar:*  Thanks for clarifying about the file extensions.  You and
Fletcher have helped me a lot!

*jem:* I'm going to try out TextWrangler, since BBedit is on the pricey
side for my needs.  But thanks!

*Spencer:* I'm curious about the markdown bundle for Textmate, but
you're
right, it's not a cheap program.  What sort of neat things does the bundle
do?

-Nicole

On Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 5:21 AM,
<markdown-discuss-request at six.pairlist.net>wrote:
>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Nicole C)
>   2. Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Chris Lott)
>   3. Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Fletcher Penney)
>   4. Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Jan Erik Mostr?m)
>   5. Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Lasar Liepins)
>   6. Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt (Spencer Wysinger)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 18:48:43 -0500
> From: Nicole C <ncat999 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net
> Message-ID:
>        <CAJYUP8NQMP1qoMt+6aE1aERxq6h-euQoBwvLGe0nq=HGLLSQUg at
mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hi all,
>
> I'm a newer user of markdown & MultiMarkdown, and I'm looking
for the
> perfect setup of software for my Mac and my Android phone.  I'd like to
> have my drafts editable from both.
>
> What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily blog posts and
> emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as .md or
> .markdown instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true markdown
> editor for Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my
> phone.
>
> I know that I could use a text-editor that is meant for programmers, but
> I'm not really the proper audience.  I don't need the line counts,
or even
> the fully colored syntax, and these programs aren't meant to create an
> aesthetically pleasing writing experience, which I'll admit is a
priority
> for me.  In other words, ideally I want the equivalent of Byword or
> Macchiato with the option to save as .txt.
>
> So, are there any markdown editors for the Mac that do all the
"pretty"
> things (receding the code, stylizing your text, etc) but that DON'T
save as
> .md or .markdown files?  Am I correct that Macchiato only saves in markdown
> format?  I'd even take something like MMD Composer, with its colorized
&
> stylized text, if it saved in plain text format.
>
> Are there any other Mac/Android users?  What are you doing to get around
> this problem?
>
> Thanks for any help or suggestions,
> -Nicole
>
> FYI, I have Marked, Byword, MultiMarkdown Composer, Mou, Tincta, and Clean
> Writer Pro.  I'm loving Epistle for my phone, since it saves to Dropbox
and
> has a clean interface.  I'm trying a trial of MarkMyWords next...
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> >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 15:02:27 -0900
> From: Chris Lott <chris at chrislott.org>
> Subject: Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: "Discussion related to Markdown."
>        <markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net>
> Message-ID:
>        <CAHJRaA5SUp1fodAb1j4BpD7uK96a=Cdd4h28iUN59evGDF7Hog at
mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Nicole C <ncat999 at gmail.com>
wrote:
> >
> > What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily blog posts
> and
> > emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as .md or
> .markdown
> > instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true markdown editor
for
> > Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my phone.
>
> Is this just an issue that the Android app can't be told to open files
> with different extensions?
>
> It annoys me that so many Markdown editors won't allow for arbitrary
> file extensions, though a few had come around last I looked.
>
> c
> --
> Chris Lott <chris at chrislott.org>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 19:46:51 -0500
> From: Fletcher Penney <fletcher at fletcherpenney.net>
> Subject: Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: "Discussion related to Markdown."
>        <markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net>
> Message-ID: <9E04ACA3-331B-4CF4-BEC2-15D222B815D8 at
fletcherpenney.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Not sure I follow - Composer saves files in plain text, and you can use
> whatever file extension you like.
>
> And you don't have to use the default theme with solarized colors if
you
> want a less colorful editor window.
>
>
> What does it not do in this regard that you are looking for?
>
>
> Fletcher
>
>
> --
> Fletcher T. Penney
> fletcher at fletcherpenney.net
>
> On Feb 1, 2012, at 6:48 PM, Nicole C wrote:
>
> > So, are there any markdown editors for the Mac that do all the
"pretty"
> things (receding the code, stylizing your text, etc) but that DON'T
save as
> .md or .markdown files?  Am I correct that Macchiato only saves in markdown
> format?  I'd even take something like MMD Composer, with its colorized
&
> stylized text, if it saved in plain text format.
> >
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:19:28 +0100
> From: Jan Erik Mostr?m <lists at mostrom.pp.se>
> Subject: Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: "Discussion related to Markdown."
>        <markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net>
> Message-ID:
>        <CALGRW_xyCkUBLQ_Ynpqm5nD=CrU=mookYbPy16UY4Zzx3JE94A at
mail.gmail.com
> >
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> If you use BBEdit you can set it to use Markdown for the default
> language for txt-files (and md and markdown and ...)
>
> - jem
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:29:14 +0100
> From: Lasar Liepins <lasar at liepins.net>
> Subject: Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: "Discussion related to Markdown."
>        <markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net>
> Message-ID: <65814B60-717D-4AFC-BE3E-E1F3490AA416 at liepins.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> Hi,
>
> ByWord, iA Writer and probably most of the other apps you mentioned
> will by default save to .md or .mdown files, but that is just the
> file suffix. These files ARE plain text.
>
> It's just a way to distinguish between "normal" plain text
files and
> markdown-formatted plain text files.
>
> Rename your file.md to file.txt and it will work just as well. When saving
> a new document the apps should prompt you for a file name that ends in
> .md as well (unless you have that "hide suffix" checkbox
checked), you
> can replace it with .txt right away.
>
> Greetings,
>
> _Lasar
>
> On 2012-02-02, at 01:02, Chris Lott wrote:
>
> > On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Nicole C <ncat999 at gmail.com>
wrote:
> >>
> >> What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily blog
posts
> and
> >> emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as .md or
> .markdown
> >> instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true markdown
editor for
> >> Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my
phone.
> >
> > Is this just an issue that the Android app can't be told to open
files
> > with different extensions?
> >
> > It annoys me that so many Markdown editors won't allow for
arbitrary
> > file extensions, though a few had come around last I looked.
> >
> > c
> > --
> > Chris Lott <chris at chrislott.org>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Markdown-Discuss mailing list
> > Markdown-Discuss at six.pairlist.net
> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/markdown-discuss
> >
>
>
>
> --
> _Lasar Liepins
> lasar at liepins.net
> http://liepins.net/
> http://10110101.net/
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 02:21:29 -0800
> From: Spencer Wysinger <swysinger at tivo.com>
> Subject: Re: Mac markdown editor that saves as .txt
> To: "Discussion related to Markdown."
>        <markdown-discuss at six.pairlist.net>
> Message-ID: <2F1872DA-8137-466E-9B19-58800EA31EF1 at tivo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>
> Let's also give some love to TextMate, one of the best Mac editors
around
> (tho it costs money).  They have a Markdown bundle that does lots of neat
> things and, as dictated by the name, it works exclusively with plain text
> files.
>
> Spencer
>
>
> On Feb 2, 2012, at 1:29 AM, Lasar Liepins wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > ByWord, iA Writer and probably most of the other apps you mentioned
> > will by default save to .md or .mdown files, but that is just the
> > file suffix. These files ARE plain text.
> >
> > It's just a way to distinguish between "normal" plain
text files and
> > markdown-formatted plain text files.
> >
> > Rename your file.md to file.txt and it will work just as well. When
> saving
> > a new document the apps should prompt you for a file name that ends in
> > .md as well (unless you have that "hide suffix" checkbox
checked), you
> > can replace it with .txt right away.
> >
> > Greetings,
> >
> > _Lasar
> >
> > On 2012-02-02, at 01:02, Chris Lott wrote:
> >
> >> On Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 2:48 PM, Nicole C <ncat999 at
gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> What I want is an attractive Mac app for writing (primarily
blog posts
> and
> >>> emails) that saves its files as .txt . Most of them save as
.md or
> .markdown
> >>> instead, and since there doesn't seem to be a true
markdown editor for
> >>> Android yet, using these programs isn't compatible with my
phone.
> >>
> >> Is this just an issue that the Android app can't be told to
open files
> >> with different extensions?
> >>
> >> It annoys me that so many Markdown editors won't allow for
arbitrary
> >> file extensions, though a few had come around last I looked.
> >>
> >> c
> >> --
> >> Chris Lott <chris at chrislott.org>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Markdown-Discuss mailing list
> >> Markdown-Discuss at six.pairlist.net
> >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/markdown-discuss
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > _Lasar Liepins
> > lasar at liepins.net
> > http://liepins.net/
> > http://10110101.net/
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Markdown-Discuss mailing list
> > Markdown-Discuss at six.pairlist.net
> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/markdown-discuss
>
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