MASTER PAGES

XPress uses two different kinds of pages—master pages and document pages. Master pages are very sophisticated, and can serve the designer well in several ways. They are non-printing pages where you can create formats—or page blueprints—for your document, including graphics, automatic page numbering, text and/or picture boxes (anything you think you will be using or needing often) to assist in the regular construction of your document. Any items you place on a master page will show up as already "created" elements within your document

You can have as many master pages as you want, each with entirely different formats and/or graphic elements. Name them, to keep track of which one serves which purpose, by double clicking on the “A-Master A” text. It will retain its letter designation along with its name.
While a master page affects what your printing page will look like, you can edit master page items within the document pages.

For instance, you may have placed a page number in one place on the master, but on page 7 (for example) you want to move it or delete it; make the move or deletion on page 7 of your XPress document.

Or, you design the master page with a 3 column format, but on page 2, you really want it to have 5 columns. Make the change on page 2. Changes made on document pages are not reflected on master pages.

You can add or delete, or rearrange master pages—and therefore document pages—from the "page window" palette, available under the Window menu.

The top of the page layout palette has icons which represent master pages—symbolized as a blank page with corners folded down, or blank pages—symbolized by a plain rectangle. The icon with a letter in it (in this illustration "A" and "B") represent existing master pages.

To place master pages within a document (and therefore add pages to the document), click on the master page icon ("A-Master A") and drag it into position below.

If you had chosen "facing pages" in the document setup box, you need to decide if it will be a right or left hand page, determined by the bold vertical line.

To delete a page, select it, then click the trash can.

To create a new master, click and drag a blank page icon down to the master page list below. When you let go, a new page icon, with a new letter ("B," "C," etc.) will appear. To modify this new master, double click on its icon in the page layout palette, or choose "display (letter) - master (letter)" from the "display" command under the Page menu.

To move around within your document from the document layout window, all you need to do is double click on the icon of the page you want to view. To modify a master page, double click on its icon.

Adding things to a master page

Before you create any content in your document, it’s always a good idea to double click the A-Master A icon in the page layout window. At the very least, you can create guides to help you position element.

You’ll know you’re working on a master page by the link icon in the top left corner. If the link is broken, it means you unchecked “facing pages” in the new document dialog box. If it’s whole, you are working with a document that has right and left pages, and therefore, right and left master pages as well. Don’t forget to format both!

Use any of the object-making tools (text and picture boxes, rule lines, etc.) to create areas that will remain consistent throughout your actual layout. If you modify any element on a master page (for instance, set the runaround “force field” to 12 points on a picture box) that modification will exist on all the layout pages.

You can also establish the font, alignment, size, leading, and tracking for text boxes on a master page, and those specifications will exist for the text box(es) each layout.

Very handy.

Once you’ve created your “base” layout, make sure to click on page 1 in the page layout palette, otherwise you’ll only be dealing with a master, and not your actual document.

To create a new master, click and drag a blank page icon down to the master page list below. When you let go, a new page icon, with a new letter ("B," "C," etc.) will appear. To modify this new master, double click on its icon in the page layout palette, or choose "display (letter) - master (letter)" from the "display" command under the Page menu.

To move around within your document from the document layout window, all you need to do is double click on the icon of the page you want to view. To modify a master page, double click on its icon.

KNOW WHERE YOU ARE:

If a document page is dark that’s the page you’re working on.

If a master page is highlighted that’s the page you’re dealing with.

Get from one to another by double clicking on the icon you want to go to in the page layout palette.

When a document page is dark, with outlined type, you are working on that page in the document (left).

When the master page is highlighted with outlined type, you are working on that master page (right).