Adding a class to a particular para inside a text area

Question

I'm looking for a way to let the client flag any given paragraph within a single text area field with a class so that it will appear with different styling. So say I have:

{exp:channel:entries channel="news" limit="1"}
  {myTextAreaField}
{/exp:channel:entries}

I would be hoping to get the output:

<p>First paragraph of content</p>
<p class="flagged">Second paragraph of content</p>
<p>Third paragraph of content</p>

I can think of numerous ways to do it using various plugins (Matrix, Hop Inject) but they all break the simple usability of just letting the client type their entry as a series of paragraphs in single text area field and flagging one of them. I'd prefer a less convoluted, native solution if I can find one, and I'd prefer to avoid using the the RTE if I can possibly avoid it.

Am I missing something really obvious? Or is the plugin route the only realistic solution?

Answer 1

You can do this using wygwam using a Custom Style Set. Doing this will allow your users to use the "style" drop down to add a class to a paragraph in the wygwam field.

Answer 2

Given that it sounds like you need the client to have the ability to flag any chunk they want, short of the client entering html, I'm not sure you can avoid the need to have a rows-based flagged/unflagged kind of setup for the client - Matrix being the obvious example. The usability of that solution is better than the alternative of having the client have to enter such flagging themselves in HTML. On the upside, they only need to create a new row for the instance of flagging. So a group of twelve paragraphs, only one of which requires flagging, would only require three rows in Matrix. The client ought to be able to understand that pretty easily, I would think.