Feature request: option to disable automatic markdown in notes

mjbaldwin
When I'm typing notes, I'll often add asterisks for emphasis, but I want them to stay asterisks. I don't want them to convert into italics immediately after I type the second asterisk, which is what happens now. I'm just generally more comfortable with non-rich text, because I can copy and paste it later without worrying about losing formatting.

I searched all through settings (including advanced) and couldn't find anything related to toggling automatic markdown. So this is a feature request to add a toggle to be able to disable it.

For discoverability and "isolating" the text editor functionality, I could suggest adding it as a checkmark menu item in the hamburger menu item on the right side of the notes formatting toolbar, where there is already a menu option "Edit in a separate window":

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u6801141/djqm1ksd2ep8s9i225m3.png

But I'd be equally happy if it were in advanced settings, if you don't want to clutter up the regular settings with too many configuration options.

Thanks!
  • dstillman
    You probably know this, but 1) you can press Ctrl/Cmd-Z to undo the automatic conversion and 2) if you copy the italicized text from the note editor and paste into a plain-text field, you'll get the original asterisks.
  • mjbaldwin
    Thanks for the info! I did know about being able to undo the conversion, but it's slightly maddening to have to undo constantly, every other type you type an asterisk.

    And I didn't know about pasting back into plaintext. Still, I'm far more comfortable typing like *this*, with the visible asterisks. It's just "thinking in plaintext" or something.

    At the end of the day, when I use rich text editors anywhere, they never try to interpret Markdown unless that's a special feature you can enable. I expect typing an asterisk to type an asterisk, and like I said, it's somewhat maddening when decades' worth of expectation get upended. There's no other text box on my computer that acts like that. So I'm sure it's not a high priority, but it would be *greatly* appreciated if the behavior could be toggled. I don't know which rich text editor library you use, but hopefully it has an easy option to set it?

    Thanks again!
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