Master pages

Know the master pages in Adobe FrameMaker and their usage. Understand template text frames and background text frame.

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.

Figure 1. Master page and body page
Masterpage and body page in FrameMaker

Master pages can contain the following types of text frames:

Figure 2. Master page
Untagged background textframe and Template text frame in a 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.

Figure 3. On body pages, you type in a text frame copied from the template text frame.
Page layout used in the bodypage from the left or right master page

Create custom master pages

Get familiar with how to create and add custom master pages in FrameMaker.

Introduction

Documents may need body pages with layouts that differ from those of the left and right master pages. For example, you can create a different look for the first page of a document, or you can include a landscape page in a portrait document. For such cases, you create custom master pages. (A document can contain up to 100 master pages.)

After you create the custom master page, change its column layout, and add background text and graphics. You then assign the custom master page to one or more body pages.

Create an empty custom master or page based on another master page’s layout

  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 drop-down list.

    • To create an empty master page, click Empty.

  4. Click Add.

Create a custom master page based on a body page’s layout

  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.

Reorder custom master pages

Understand how to reorder master pages in Adobe FrameMaker.

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.

Rotate a master page

Understand how to rotate master pages in Adobe FrameMaker.

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.

Figure 4. Right page uses a rotated master page.
Custommaster page that changes the orientation of a body 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.

Tip: You can type in rotated text frames, or you can unrotate the page to make typing faster. To unrotate a page, choose Format > Customize Layout > Unrotate Page. When you’re finished, you can rotate the page again.

Delete a custom master page

Understand how to delete a custom master page in Adobe FrameMaker.

To delete a custom master page, display the master page, and choose Format > Document > Delete Page [master page name]>.

Note: You cannot delete the master pages named Left and Right, and you cannot delete the left or right master page, or any master page currently assigned to a body page.

Assign master pages to body pages

Learn how to assign master pages to body pages in structured and unstructured FrameMaker documents.

Introduction

You can assign a master page to a body page at any time. FrameMaker uses the template text frame from the master page and displays background text and graphics.

You can also choose to assign no master page to a body page. Because it’s not associated with a master page, this type of body page has no headers, footers, or other background text or graphics. (If the body page contains a text frame, the text frame is unaffected.) For example, if each chapter in a book must contain an even number of pages, and if the last page of a chapter contains no body text, you may not want that page to use a master page, so that it will be blank.

Assign a different master page

  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 drop-down list.

    • To assign no master page, select None from the Custom drop-down list.

  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 drop-down list in the Apply To area.

  4. Click Apply.

Note: If the master page contains a template text flow not found on the body page, FrameMaker adds the text frames that contain that flow to the body page. If the body page contains a flow not found on the master page, FrameMaker leaves the text frames that contain that flow unchanged. This action could result in overlapping text frames.

Assign a master page to pages with specified paragraph styles

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

You map the paragraph styles 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 style appears.

Figure 5. In this example, the First master page will be applied to body pages containing Title paragraph styles.
Applya master page to body pages containing specified paragraph styles

  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 Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages... from a book.

  4. Edit the mapping table by doing the following:

    • Under the Paragraph Style Name column heading, type the name of the paragraph style to which you want the master page to be applied. This column is required for master pages to be applied. Spell the paragraph style name correctly, using the same capitalization that the paragraph style 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 styles 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 styles 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 style appears; type Span pages to apply the master page to the entire span of pages to which the paragraph style is applied; or type Until changed to apply the master page to all pages, until the next body page with a different paragraph style 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 styles, 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 style specified in the Master Page Maps table. When it finds text containing the specified paragraph style, it applies the specified master page.

Assign a master page to body pages of structured documents

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 Format > Page Layout > 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 Style Name column heading, type a valid prefix (E: for elements, or P: for paragraphs), followed by the name of the element or paragraph style to which you want the master page to be applied. If no prefix is applied, an element is assumed. Spell the name correctly, using the same capitalization that the element or paragraph style 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 styles 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 styles 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 style appears; type Span pages to apply the master page to the entire span of pages to which the element or paragraph style 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 style 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 styles, 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 style specified in the Master Page Maps table. When it finds text containing the specified element or paragraph style, it applies the specified master page.

Display master pages

Learn how to view and display master pages and return to body pages from a master page.

Introduction

When working with master pages, you move back and forth between them and the body pages. When a master page is visible, its name and the number of master pages in the document appear in the Page Status area of the status bar.

Figure 6. Page Status area of status bar
Number of master pages inthe document appear in the Page Status area of the status bar

Choose View > Master Pages. The master page used by the current body page appears, with the text frame and column borders visible.

View other master pages when a master page is visible

  • 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.

Return to body pages while master pages are visible

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.