Automate frame height

[tll-lo]

Hi,
These are my frame properties.

Anchor:
To paragraph

Position:
Horizontal: Right, to paragraph text area
Vertical: Top, to paragraph text area

So, it starts in the top right corner of the paragraph text area. I want it’s height to automatically extend to the bottom of the paragraph text area, but that option doesn’t appear to exist.

Height:
relative to 100% of page area, or paragraph area, but not paragraph text area, which is what I need.

If I tick “keep inside text boundaries” that works, setting the bottom of the frame to the right place, but moves the frame to the next page since it is 100% of page or paragraph area, thus too big for the original page.

I can untick “relative to % of area…” in height which keeps it on the original page, but means I have to manually enter in a number for its height, which defeats the purpose of what I’m trying to do.

Ticking autosize doesn’t help either. If the number is too big it goes to a new page. If the number is too small it doesn’t extend the bottom of the frame to fill the entire paragraph text area.

What I need for height is an option “relative to 100% of paragraph text area” or perhaps an autosize that extends it to the text boundary. Is this possible?

EDIT

OS: Linux Mint 22.3
Libreoffice Writer:
Version: 24.2.7.2 (X86_64) / Ubuntu package version: 4:24.2.7-0ubuntu0.24.04.4
Version: 25.8.5.2 (X86_64) / AppImage
Save Format: .odt

Inside the frames is text. I am using the ‘marginalia’ frame style.

[ajlittoz]

Please mention OS name, exact LO version and save format. For better understanding of your goal, attach a sample file with a few examples in various contexts (near top of page, near centre, near bottom) to see how your frames react.

What is supposed to be inside the frames? Image? Text? Autosize works correctly only vertically for text; consequently it won’t “align” with the external constraint (paragraph text area or paragraph area).

Are you familiar with frame styles? They are probably the only tool to fully automate your requirement but they are very very sensitive to direct formatting (DF). DF immediately defeats the style and is next to impossible to remove once set. So, beware.

[tll-lo]

Thanks for your reply. Have updated initial post with the relevant information.

If I have just the right amount of text (not too many lines, not too few), it works with ‘autosize’ and ‘keep inside text boundaries’ ticked. But of course, the frame height adjusts according to how much text I have, given autosize.

[ajlittoz]

Since the difference between Entire paragraph area and Paragraph text area is only the spacings above and below, it should not matter: setting Autosize with Center vertical alignment would achieve the same result.

But, obviously there is a bug because Relative to Entire paragraph area behaves just the same as Entire page.

Bug report at tdf#171204

[ajlittoz]

Perhaps not the solution you’re looking for but a workaround?

Since you are applying Marginalia frame size, your side comments have a limited fixed width (horizontal AutoSize will try to swallow the full page-width). Then you can take the frame width and its spacing into account to design a paragraph style with a right indent wide enough for the frame and spacing.

You apply this style to all paragraphs with a side comment. Thus you create two independent areas: standard text flow at left and reserved area for the frame at right. You no longer need to care for the effective frame height.