Manage elements using the Elements catalog

Introduction

When working with elements in a document, you can use the Elements catalog to insert, wrap, and change the elements. You can also merge multiple elements in a document, you can split a single element into multiple elements, and unwrap elements in a document.

Merge elements

You can merge multiple similar and contiguous elements in a document. For example, you can merge two or more <p> elements to include the contents into one <p> element. You can merge multiple lists (ordered or unordered) to include the elements of the different lists into one list.

1. To select multiple similar elements in the Structure View panel, click the first element then keeping the Shift key pressed, click the other elements that you want to merge.

   Note: The elements that you want to merge must be contiguous (placed next to each other in the document hierarchy).

2. Choose Element > Merge.

   Alternatively, you can right-click the selection and choose Merge from the context menu.

The multiple elements are merged into a single element of the same type.

Split an element

You can split a single element into two elements. For example, if a list contains multiple list items, you can split the list into two lists. The list items in the two new lists depends on the item you selected to split the list. Also, if a paragraph of text contains a piece of text that is wrapped in an element, you can split the paragraph at the wrapped element.

1. Select the element at which point you want to split the parent.

   For example, select the list item at the point where you want to split a list.

   Or select the wrapping element at the point where you want to split a paragraph.

2. Choose Element > Split.

   Alternatively, you can right-click the selection and choose Split from the context menu.

The parent element is split at the selected child element.

Unwrap element text

You can wrap text into an element (Wrap an element). You can also choose to unwrap text from an element and remove the element wrapping the text.

1. Select the element that wraps text in a document.

2. Choose Element > Unwrap.

   Alternatively, you can right-click the selection and choose Unwrap from the context menu.

The wrapping element is removed from the text.