[scribus] alignment of text frames after inserting a new page

Peter Nermander peter at nermander.se
Sat Mar 6 14:17:23 CET 2010


> Yes and no. Depends on how the book is structured. For instance, as is often
> the case, chapters start on a right page.

I think it is very inappropriate to make such an assumption. I just
looked through a few books here and many of them start new chapters on
a left page.

>      - Additional note: and the total pagination of the book must always be
>      considered when you add or remove pages. A book of 301 pages
> doesn?t exist
>      in a printer?s reality.

No problem at all, in almost all books I have seen there is a padding
with empty pages at the end if the number of pages does not match what
is needed in the imposition. I don't think any author writes a book
trying to target a multiple of 16 or 32 pages (which as far as I know
are the most common impositions used for books).


> Just as a parenthesis in this discussion, allow me to doubt that a word
> processor would do a better job in this particular case. End of parenthesis!

Well, at least MS Word handles inside and outside margins correctly
when you chose pacing pages. Also if I put a text frame in the margin
I can set the position according to "book layout" and it will stay for
example in the outer margin no matter if it is a left page or a right
page. I just tried it to be sure.

> As for TeX, even if it is true (and I cannot be sure as I don?t know enough
> TeX), the idea of finding a way of solving the situation *within Scribus?
> capacities* is important too. If someone has started to layout a book of 300
> pages in Scribus and finds himself in front of such an issue, we can help by
> finding Scribus ways of solving the issue.

Well, the logic for aligning the main text frame is easy, as far as I
see it: positioning relative margins (not the page edge). In this case
if would be "0 from left margin". In MS Word you can chose absolute
(which has the page edges as reference) and relative (where it can be
relative margin or column for horisontal and relative margin or
paragraph för vertical).

As for a margin note, we also need conditional formatting and that is
one step further. Maybe for a facing layout be able to set the
reference relative "inside margin" or "outside margin".

Of course if we can have formulas in the position fields it can be
solved that way, but I think most users will prefer radio buttons and
dropdown selections for the most common things.

/Peter




More information about the scribus mailing list