Master and reference pages

FrameMaker uses master pages to keep track of a document’s page layout. A double-sided document contains at least two master pages, one for left pages and one for right pages. A single-sided document uses the right master page only. Documents can also contain custom master pages, which you can use for special types of pages. You can also create layouts directly on body pages for one-time-only use.

If your page layout is complex, or if you need to create design components such as page headers and footers, work with the components directly on the master pages. You can draw or import graphics—such as lines, boxes, or company logos—anywhere on a master page, as well as type text on them. Graphics and text appear on the corresponding body pages exactly as they appear on the master page, as part of the body page’s background.

Master page and body page

Master pages can contain the following types of text frames:

• A template text frame contains a tagged text flow—a flow with a name. When you add a body page, the template text frame is copied to the new body page. You then type the document’s text in this text frame on the body page. You can type text in a template text frame on a master page, but the text does not appear on body pages.

• A background text frame contains an untagged text flow—a flow with no name. Its contents appear on corresponding body pages, but you can edit them only on the master pages. Background text frames are typically used for page headers and footers.

Master page

A. Untagged background text frame B. Template text frame

When you add text and illustrations to your document on body pages, FrameMaker adds body pages as necessary and automatically uses the page layout from the left or right master page.

On body pages, you type in a text frame copied from the template text frame.

You can use reference pages to store frequently used graphics that you want to position consistently throughout a document, and then use the graphics on body pages where they are needed. If you place a graphic in a reference frame—an unanchored graphic frame on a reference page—you can use the frame as a property of a paragraph format. For example, to design a heading with a line below it, draw the line in a reference frame, and then include the reference frame in the paragraph format of the heading.

Reference page and body page

Reference pages can also hold boilerplate material or clip art that you can copy and paste on body pages—for example, symbols for cautions and notes. And specialized reference pages can contain hypertext commands, formatting information for generated lists and indexes, definitions of custom math elements, and mappings for converting to XML and HTML.

A document normally contains at least one reference page. You can add your own graphics to an existing reference page, and you can create additional reference pages (up to 100).

1. Display the master page that you want to use as a basis for the new master page.

2. Choose Insert > Add Master Page and enter a name for the new master page in the Name text box.

3. Do one of the following:

   • To create a master page with a layout that matches the layout of an existing master page, choose the master page from the Copy From Master Page pop-up menu.

   • To create an empty master page, click Empty.

4. Click Add.

1. Make the column layout changes you want on a body page.

2. With the body page displayed, choose Format > Page Layout > New Master Page.

3. Enter a name for the master page and click Create.

When you reorder custom master pages, the Right and Left master pages always remain at the beginning.

1. Open a master page, and then choose Format > Page Layout > Reorder Custom Master Pages.

2. Select a master page in the Custom Master Pages list, and click Move Up or Move Down to move the page accordingly.

3. Click Set. If you were previously viewing a custom master page, note that a different master page may now be visible.

You can create a custom master page that changes the orientation of a body page. For example, you can create a rotated orientation for a body page with a wide table.

Right page uses a rotated master page.

1. On a new master page, set up any text frames and background text and graphics that you want to have the same orientation (unrotated) as headers and footers on the other master pages.

2. Choose one of the Format > Customize Layout > Rotate Page commands. When FrameMaker rotates the page, part of the page will probably be out of view. You can adjust the window size to see as much of the page as possible.

3. Create the text frames, background text, and background graphics that you want to display rotated.

To rename or delete a custom master page, display the master page, and choose Format > Document > Delete Page <master page name>.

1. With a body page displayed, choose Format > Page Layout > Master Page Usage.

2. In the Use Master Page area, do one of the following:

   • To assign the left or right master page, click Right (in a single-sided document) or Right/Left (in a double‑sided document).

   • To assign a custom master page, choose the page name from the Custom pop-up menu.

   • To assign no master page, choose None from the Custom pop-up menu.

3. In the Apply To area, do one of the following:

   • To apply the change to the current body page, click Current.

   • To apply the change to a range of pages, enter the starting and ending page numbers in the Pages text boxes.

   • To apply the changes only to odd or even pages within a range, select Even or Odd.

   • To apply the changes only to pages within a range that currently use a particular master page, choose a page from the pop-up menu in the Apply To area.

4. Click Apply.

You can assign master pages to body pages that contain specified paragraph tags. For example, you may want all pages that include the Title paragraph tag to be formatted with a custom master page called First.

You map the paragraph tags to the master pages using the Reference Pages mapping table. When you choose the Apply Master Pages command, the master page will be applied to the body pages on which the referenced paragraph tag appears.

In this example, the First master page will be applied to body pages containing Title paragraph tags.

1. Choose View > Reference Pages.

2. Click the Next Page button until the five-column UnstructMasterPageMaps table appears.

   Tip: If the mapping table does not appear in the reference pages, choose Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages.

3. For Book Update (Yes or No), type Yes or No to determine whether the specified master page is applied when you choose Apply Master Pages from a book.

4. Edit the mapping table by doing the following:

   • Under the Paragraph Tag Name column heading, type the name of the paragraph tag to which you want the master page to be applied. This column is required for master pages to be applied. Spell the paragraph tag name correctly, using the same capitalization that the paragraph tag uses.

   • Under the Right-Handed Master Page column heading, type the name of the master page you want to apply. This column is required for master pages to be applied. The specified master page is applied to all body pages, including left-handed pages in double-sided documents on which the paragraph tags appear, unless you specify a different master page under the Left-Handed Master Page column. Master page names are case-sensitive.

   • Under the Left-Handed Master Page column heading, type the name of the master page that you want to apply to the left-handed body pages on which the paragraph tags appear in double-sided documents. This column is optional.

   • Under the Range Indicator column heading, type Single to apply the master page only to the body page on which each paragraph tag appears; type Span pages to apply the master page to the entire span of pages to which the paragraph tag is applied; or type Until changed to apply the master page to all pages, until the next body page with a different paragraph tag listed in the mapping table is encountered. If this cell is blank, master pages are applied to single pages.

   • Add notes to the Comments column. Text you type in this column does not affect how master pages are applied in any way.

   • To map additional master pages to paragraph tags, add and fill out additional table rows.

5. When you are done, choose View > Body Pages.

6. Make the appropriate document window or book window active. If a book window is active, select the documents you want to affect.

7. Choose Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages, and then click Yes to override manually applied master pages.

Adobe FrameMaker searches each body page for the first occurrence of any paragraph tag specified in the Master Page Maps table. When it finds text containing the specified paragraph tag, it applies the specified master page.

To assign master pages to body pages containing elements in structured documents, you map the elements to the master pages using the Reference Pages mapping table. When you choose Apply Master Pages, the master page is applied to the body page on which the referenced element appears.

1. In Structured FrameMaker, choose View > Reference Pages.

2. Click the Next Page button until the eight-column StructMasterPageMaps table appears.

   Tip: If you are working on a document created in a previous version of FrameMaker, choose Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages, so that the mapping table appears in the reference pages.

3. To the right of Book Update (Yes or No), type Yes or No to determine whether the specified master page is applied when you choose Apply Master Pages from a book.

4. Edit the mapping table by doing the following:

   • Under the Element/Paragraph Tag Name column heading, type a valid prefix (E: for element tag, or P: for paragraph tag), followed by the name of the element or paragraph tag to which you want the master page to be applied. If no prefix is applied, an element tag is assumed. Spell the name correctly, using the same capitalization that the element or paragraph tag uses. This column is required for master pages to be applied.

   • Under the Right-Handed Master Page column heading, type the name of the master page you want to apply. The specified master page is applied to all body pages, including left-handed pages in double-sided documents on which the elements or paragraph tags appear, unless you specify a different master page under the Left-Handed Master Page column. Master page names are case-sensitive. This column is required for master pages to be applied.

   • Under the Left-Handed Master Page column heading, type the name of the master page that you want to apply to the left-handed body pages on which the elements or paragraph tags appear in double-sided documents. This column is optional.

   • Under Attribute Name, type a valid attribute name to further define the mapping context.

   • Under Attribute Value, type a valid attribute value to further define the mapping context.

   • Under Context, type a value for an element’s context label to further define the mapping context.

   • Under the Range Indicator heading, type Single to apply the master page only to the body page on which each element or paragraph tag appears; type Span pages to apply the master page to the entire span of pages to which the element or paragraph tag is applied; or type Until changed to apply the master page to all pages until the next body page with a different element or paragraph tag listed in the mapping table is encountered. If this cell is blank, master pages are applied to single pages.

   • Add notes to the Comments column. Text you type in this column does not affect how master pages are applied in any way.

   • To map additional master pages to elements or paragraph tags, add and fill out additional table rows.

5. Choose View > Body Pages.

6. Make the appropriate document window or book window active. If a book window is active, select the documents you want to affect.

7. Choose Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages, and then click Yes to override manually applied master pages.

FrameMaker searches each body page for the first occurrence of any element or paragraph tag specified in the Master Page Maps table. When it finds text containing the specified element or paragraph tag, it applies the specified master page.

• Do one of the following:

  • Click the Next Page or Previous Page button.

  • Press the Page Up or Page Down key.

  • Use the scroll bar.

Choose View > Body Pages. The most recently displayed body page appears. If FrameMaker detects any layout overrides on body pages, an alert message asks how you want to handle them.

Choose View > Reference Pages. The name of the current reference page appears in the Page Status area of the status bar.

Page Status area

If the document doesn’t contain any reference pages, the Add Reference Page dialog box appears. Create the first reference page by entering a page name and clicking Add.

• Click the Next Page or Previous Page button.

• Press the Page Up or Page Down key.

• Use the scroll bar.

1. Display reference pages and choose Insert > Add Reference Page.

2. Enter a name for the reference page and click Add.

Choose View > Body Pages. The most recently displayed body page appears.

You can rename a reference page—for example, to avoid overwriting the reference page when you import reference pages from a template that contains a reference page with the same name.

If you delete a reference page that contains a graphic used in a paragraph format, the graphic no longer appears in paragraphs using that format. When this happens, the Frame Above or the Frame Below pop-up menu in the Advanced properties of the Paragraph Designer is set to As Is for the paragraphs.

• Display the reference page and do one of the following:

  • To rename the page, click the page name in the status bar, and type the new name. Click Set.

  • To delete the page, choose Format > Document > Delete Page <reference page name>.

1. Click the Graphic Frame tool on the Tools pod, and then drag to draw the frame. To draw a square frame, Shift-drag.

2. Enter a name in the Name text box and click Set. Use a short, descriptive name you can recognize later when the name appears in the Frame Above and the Frame Below pop-up menus in the Advanced properties of the Paragraph Designer.

3. Put a graphic in the frame. You can draw the graphic, import a graphic file, or combine drawn and imported graphics.

4. Adjust the frame’s size and shape if necessary. When you use a reference frame above or below a paragraph on a body page, the whole frame—not just the graphic inside it—appears on the body page. The height of the frame affects the spacing of text above and below the frame.

5. Use the Text Line tool to type the frame’s name above the frame. Typing the name helps you identify the frame when you view the reference page. It does not rename the reference frame.

1. Select the reference frame and click the frame’s name in the status bar.

2. Enter the new name and click Set. You should also type the new name in the text line above the reference frame. If you rename a reference frame used in a paragraph format, you need to update the format so that it uses the new frame name.

Select the frame and use either Graphics > Object Properties or the options on the Tools pod.

You can set up boilerplate graphics—for example, margin symbols—in anchored frames on a reference page. Then you can copy the anchored frames to body pages. When you do this, the graphics appear correctly positioned in their anchored frames.

You can copy and paste boilerplate graphics onto body pages.

You can also place graphics directly on reference pages and then copy and paste them anywhere on body pages.

1. Create a reference page with the same column layout as the body page on which you want to display the graphic. This ensures that the graphic is positioned correctly when you copy it to body pages. To set up the column layout, you can copy the text frame from a body page and paste it on the reference page.

   On the reference page, set up the anchored frame exactly as you want it to appear on body pages.

2. Draw the graphic in the anchored frame, or paste or import it into the frame. You may want to add some text outside the anchored frame to identify the graphic. For example, in the illustration, Caution Symbol identifies the graphic.