8. Working with Master Pages
In this chapter, you learn how to work with master pages. Topics include the following:
Applying a Master Page to a Publication
Sending Objects to the Master Page
Master pages are a little like templates. They contain the items that you want repeated on every page. For example, you can put a footer with the page number and date so that they appear on every page of the publication or a logo in the upper-left corner that you want to appear on every page. Anything that you find yourself repeating over and over—inserting an object, changing the formatting—may well be a good candidate for a master page.
Although you can let Publisher apply the contents of a master page to every page in your publication, you do have the option of associating a particular page with the None option, breaking the tie between the master page and that page. In this way, selected pages of a publication can be left out of the global formatting done by the master page.
You can create multiple master pages for more complex publications. Furthermore, you can create a two-page master page for publications that have facing pages, like a booklet, or brochure.
Creating a Master Page
Building a master page isn’t that different from building a publication. You have all the formatting and tools available. The only difference is that everything you do is contained in one place, which makes editing much easier.
Master pages improve consistency in the appearance of your publications and improve productivity by reducing the amount of time you spend inserting objects and performing repetitive tasks.
1. From the Home tab, click the Page Design tab.
2. Click the Master Pages command button to open the list of options.
3. Click Edit Master Pages to switch to Master Page view.
4. Click Show Header/Footer once to switch to the Header workspace.
5. Click Show Header/Footer again to switch to the Footer workspace.
7. Click the Insert Page Number command button.
8. Press Tab to move to the center of the line.
9. Click the Insert Date command button.
10. Press Tab again to move to the right margin.
11. Click the Insert Time command button.
12. Click Close Master Page when you finish.
Two-Page Master
You can create a two-page master page for the publications that have facing pages. When you open the Master Page view, click the Two Page Master command button to change the default single page to a two-page master page. Then add the elements that you want to appear on the facing pages.
Applying Master Pages
In many cases, you will set up a master page that contains elements that you want to appear on every page. Publisher makes that incredibly simple because by default the master page is applied to all pages in the publication. So, you don’t have to do a thing!
Still, it’s a simple matter to create more than one master page and then selectively apply one or the other master to specific pages. The connection between the master page and a publication page can even be “broken,” so none of the master pages are applied to it. Clearly, you have complete control over how the master pages are applied to the publication.
Applying a Master Page
There are two ways to apply a master page to your publication: either from the Publisher workspace or from the Master Page view.
1. Click on the page to which you want to apply a master page.
2. Click the Page Design tab.
3. Click the Master Pages command button.
4. Click Apply Master Page to display the Apply Master Page dialog box.
Use Apply To Command
You can also apply a master page from the Master Page view. Simply click the page where you want to apply a master page, and then click the Apply To command button. Click Apply to Current Page from the list of options.
5. If necessary, select the master page from this list.
6. Verify the Current Page(s) option is selected.
7. Click OK to apply the master page to the current page.
Rename a Master Page
Master pages are labeled with letters of the alphabet. The first master page is A, the second is B, and so forth. You can rename a master page in the Master Page view by clicking the Rename command button. In the Rename dialog box, make your changes, and then click OK.
Selecting None for the Master Page
When you need to un-apply (is that a word?) a master page, so that the elements in the master page are not placed on a specific page, you can break the connection. You simply choose (None) as the master page.
1. Click the page from which you want to remove the master page.
2. Click the Page Design tab.
3. Click the Master Pages command button.
4. Click the (None) option.
Editing Master Pages
Editing a master page is not much different from editing a publication. You do your work from the Master Page view rather than the Publisher workspace, but you have all the same tools available.
For this example, you need to edit the master page and add a banner. Using the Building Block Library, which contains items that let you assemble publications quickly and easily, you simply select from the impressive collection of built-in banners and bars.
2. Click the Master Pages command button.
3. Click Edit Master Pages to switch to the Master Page view.
4. Click the Insert tab to gain access to those tools.
5. Click the Borders & Accents command button.
6. Scroll down to see the bars, emphasis, and frames.
7. Click More Borders and Accents to view the entire collection.
8. Scroll down through the Borders & Accents in the Building Block Library.
9. Double-click one of the borders/accents to insert it.
10. Click the Master Page tab to switch back to Master Page view.
11. Click the Close Master Page command button when you finish editing the master page.
More Options
This exercise showed you how to insert a banner into a master page, which represents only one item that you can insert into a master page. The full gamut of tools are available on the Insert tab to include pictures, text boxes, shapes, WordArt, and tables to name a few. You also have all the tools on the Page Design tab.
Sending to the Master Page
One of the most popular aspects of the master page tool is your ability to deconstruct a publication and send objects to the master page, simplifying the publication by grouping together all the common elements in the master page. Editing those elements becomes much simpler, as does troubleshooting any issues you may have.
1. Select the item that you want to send to the master page.
2. Click the Page Design tab.
3. Click the Master Pages command button.
4. Click Send to Master Page.
5. Click OK to continue working.
