Fixed or Exact spacing within a text box in writer

[Dtrizzle]

I’m trying to create a well formatted legal brief using Writer. Specifically, I am trying to arrange a text box in the margin to display line numbers that align with body text as required by the courts.

This is probably the best example of what I’m trying to achieve:
http://typographyforlawyers.com/motions.html

Note how the line numbers in the margin align perfectly with the lines of text in the body.

Here are instructions for doing this in Word and in Pages:
http://practicaltypography.com/line-numbers.html

I did this in both of those programs successfully. However, I cannot pull off the same thing in LibreOffice Writer. The issue is that I cannot set exact or fixed line spacing within the line number text box in the margin. Apparently, the fixed/exact option is available in the body of the document but not in the text box.

Does anyone know if 1) there is a way to fixed/exact line spacing in a text box OR 2) another way to achieve the same effect? Thanks in advance for your help.

Update: This question was answered. In short, use the line numbering feature. That works for all pages after the first page of a legal brief. Does anyone have any ideas how to make a caption page work? (This is the one place where you need the line numbers to be evenly spaced - 28 a page, but the text DOES NOT line up perfectly at the top of the page.

An example: http://typographyforlawyers.com/caption-pages.html

Thanks again

[Dtrizzle]

Similar problem here: How to set line height for entire document?
Double spacing is too large for my needs. 1.5 is too small. (Courts require 27-28 lines per page at 12 pt. font). Basically need to be able to set the exact point size or control it another way.

[oweng]

Is there some reason why the Tools > Line Numbering… facility is not suitable? Also refer this thread.

EDIT: That caption page is a typographic nightmare that only a lawyer could dream up. I hope they provide you the typographic detail as otherwise it will likely take some time to produce a relative replicate. In this instance you will need to use a frame (Insert > Frame…) to obtain your line numbering. There are many variables in doing this so it is probably just easiest if I provide an example (rename file from JPG to ZIP and extract the contents).

The page size is US Letter with 72 pt (1 in) margins all around. The right margin in the example looks to be less than this. Frames have the advantage over text boxes (which are also a frame) of allowing styles to be used within them. While the numbering appears to be correctly spaced, given the position of the 1 and the 28, I have only provided part of the page content. From the main centred heading in all capitals the content appears to be set in a larger point size and with greater spacing in the original, so you will need to style this bit yourself. The two-column section might be easier with a pair of frames, due to the unusual border arrangement. I hope this helps.

[Dtrizzle]

That feature worked perfectly. Thank you so much. Looks like I was trying to force the MS or Apple way on LO and it didn’t work out. I guess I have more LO learning to do. Thank you. It is actually easier to do in LO than in Office or Pages. I feel like an idiot and am excited and grateful for your help all at the same time.

[Dtrizzle]

I made an edit to the question. Line numbers works great for all but the first page (also know as the caption page). I put a link to show what I’m trying to achieve there.

[Dtrizzle]

Here’s what I did to handle the caption page. I added a text frame to the top of the page. I floated the text frame above the body of the document such that the contents were not affected by the frame. Inside the text frame, I used a table to format the caption page information. I used return breaks to push the body text down while keeping it aligned with the line numbers.

It’s a bit of a hack, but it works.

[oweng]

+1. I have updated my answer for greater clarity and to provide an example. Your approach as described is an alternate one to what I have provided. In your case (frame for the page contents) you can leave the line numbering turned on and place a row of carriage returns down the page. In mine (frame for the line numbering) the line numbering needs to be turned off for the first page and the content sits on the page as usual. Well done.