I want to set up a calendar for this year. Simple.
What is the easiest way to define a 3 area page layout that I can quickly copy and modify from page to page?
I want three areas - the top area being a graphic (photo) that is to be the same size on each page - the middle dates area and a final area indication the month.
I tried using writer and set up a ‘table in table’ type layout, with a single column, 3 row table as the base. Top row for the image, and a second sub table in the middle row, and a text box in the final row.
The problem with that was when I inserted the image into the top row, it adjusted the size of the row. I faffed around and then got a slightly cropped version of the image, but that then lacked a background - so I put a rectangle of a semi transparent colour in the top row and brought the image up to the top.
That gave me a relatively ok first month, but now I want to copy it all around. I thought ‘select all’ would then allow me to copy/paste the whole layout to page (month) 2, but no joy.
I would guess that there’s an easier way of doing this? - any pointers appreciated.
I would use header for that top area with image. That way, you would have it replicated on each page without need to copy.
Having some experience with each LibreOffice application, you may use them all creatively to do what you need, each of them has something that it may do better than others. In Calc, header is available, too, when it’s easy to use calculations and conditional formatting for days, and functions to define holidays; Draw allows to use rulers, layers, and master pages, and also easier to place graphics; even Impress with its master pages may be used successfully (although arguably it’s not designed for such tasks and in this regard is subset of Draw).
OK - I think I know how to do it.
I want a simple three area set up, so a typical writer page seems to be the best way - as Mike said. The problem is that the header and footer is common across pages - so where I want to use the header for an image per month, that couldn’t work. But it can if I define separate page formats for each month - so a january Page format, Feb Page format etc. That way each page can have its own header image and footer that says the month. This appears to work ok…
…once I get a working version, I’ll post the document here (if I’m allowed) in case someone else wants to do the same thing…
…the page format per month worked fine - but I had a bit of an issue with the table used for the calendar body. In its properties it had links to the page, so copying it around initially caused me issues as it tried to copy the page format as well. Removing those and associated links from the table properties resolved that issue. The ‘working’ test calendar is a bit too big to upload here (40MB+)…but if anyone wants a copy, contact me.
Mike,
I initially used header and footer and the page body as the three way split, but I thought that if I wanted different images for each page in the header then that would not work, so I went the table route!
Is there a ‘container’ that I’m missing in one of the tools that allows me to configure a page into 3 sections? I just want to be able to fix the page layout. Or is that simply a style that I can configure? Given that I have a different image per page, a different set of dates and a different month name, I think I just want a fixed layout and to then be able to copy a section from one month to the other.
Actually, table is OK for the task. However, I find your description unclear: “The problem with that was when I inserted the image into the top row, it adjusted the size of the row. I faffed around and then got a slightly cropped version of the image, but that then lacked a background - so I put a rectangle of a semi transparent colour in the top row and brought the image up to the top”.
I don’t actually understand your issue described - best if you post an example file here (or share somehow).