DO NOT add space between paragraphs

English
#1

Hi All,

Fedora 39
libreoffice7.6-7.6.5.2-2.x86_64 (From LO’s web site)

In the paragraphs setting “do not add a space between paragraphs”, it does not matter what I have set the template to or if I have selected the entire document and told it not to do so, every time I insert something that idiotic space comes back. This should not annoy the snot out me, but it does. I am wasting tons of time on this.

How do I get LO Writer to permanently disable this feature. And please do not tell me to put it into the template. I already have.

Many thanks,
-T

#2

You say: “In the paragraphs setting”. LibreOffice Writer offers many ways to get to settings that might be called “paragraph settings”. Some of these use direct or manual settings that take precedence over style settings and can cause all kinds of confusion.

To learn how to solve your problem, open a new document. The Default Paragraph Style will be highlighted in the Paragraph Style area of the Styles deck of the Sidebar. Do not use this style.

Since you don’t want space between paragraphs, I am assuming you want you paragraphs indented. If so, you can right click on the First Line Indent paragraph style and select Edit Style. In the Spacing area of the Indents & Spacing tab, set Above paragraph and Below paragraph both to 0.00". You can change the First line setting in the Indent area to whatever you want. Make what other settings you want in the various tabs. Click OK.

The Default Paragraph Style will still be selected in the Sidebar. To change this, double click on the First Line Indent paragraph style. Begin typing. When you hit the Enter key to start a new paragraph, the new paragraph should continue to use the First Line Indent paragraph style. There should be no space between the paragraphs.

To avoid having to set this up for each new document. Save your settings as a new template and make the new template your default choice.

#3

Does not work. Done that several times.

And even if it ever starts to work, how do I PURGE this obnoxious feature from my old documents? Pasting to a new document does not work either

I do not.

Thank you for the help anyway.

#4

When you say you’ve done this several times before, did you start with a new document using LibreOffice Writer’s original default template? If not, you may have started with unwanted formatting.

When you say “Pasting to a new document does not work either” you must consider how you paste. I always recommend using Paste Special>Paste Unformatted Text so you are not accidentally bringing in unwanted formatting.

Out of curiosity, if you don’t want space between paragraphs or want to use first line indent, how will your readers know when one paragraph ends and another begins?

#5

Please don’t use Suggest a Solution unless it is an answer. Please click a comment bubble to add a comment.

#6

yes, each time.

And lose all my tables? Lose my indents? Lose my graphics? I really, really do not enjoy starting over, though I have tried that.

They figure it out by the empty line feed I put in. Just as you would do on a typewriter. And it is a normal one line space, not a space and a half.

I do believe the problem here is that I took typing in publik hi skool (most useful class in all of high school) and I demand that I have typewriter total control over my indents, my paragraphs, and my spacing.

I write a lot of directions (technical writing) and the space between paragraphs is a total pain in my … especially when my line feeds are not paragraphs breaks, but different steps that need to begin on a new line, not a new paragraph. This obnoxious feature drive me bananas!

LO should consider making off the default and those that like it can enable it. At the least, LO should consider giving us the option to purge this obnoxious feature from our documents.

#14

I learned to type on a manual typewriter. When I first started using a word processing program, I basically typed the same way. Then, I read enough of the manual to work a little more efficiently. Years later, I took the time to read more of the manual as well as several other books about the word processing program and discovered I could have saved hours, days, and even months of work over the years if I had learned to use the features offered earlier.

When I started using LibreOffice, I learned more about styles and how using styles can make composition so much easier. The problem is, you can still do things manually that will override the style settings. Then, things can get complicated quickly.

I make videos and courses to help others learn more quickly in order to avoid the learning difficulties I went through. I encourage you to learn to use styles. I’m sure your view of LibreOffice would change dramatically.

2 Likes
#15

I’d rather state: things turn to nightmare if you mix direct formatting with styles because, rightly, DF overrides styling. I learnt it the hard way. Contrary to popular belief, DF is a supreme refinement which should be reserved for the super-guru-experts.

As a beginner, avoid DF as if it was plague. There are case where DF is legitimate but they tend to be rather rare. A correctly styled document is a treat. It reacts wonderfully to edits always keeping to the rules of your layout.

As @mikekaganski hinted, to succeed you must forget about the shape or format of your document and focus on its semantics and structure. Styling sums up to a markup for Writer to tell it the significance of the various paragraphs (primary units) or words (secondary units with pages and others). How it is displayed is not of prime importance. It is a consequence of significance: there is no italics in significance but emphasis, no bold but importance, … This magically allows you to change the look by playing only with the parameters for emphasis or importance with the guarantee that document semantics will always be respected (even if it looks awful).

So, smart usage of Writer begins by some introspection on your discourse: how is it structured? Are there headings to split the argumentation? Are there annotations/clarifications/explanations? (they can go into notes.) Do you quote others? All these nuances of significance call for different styles.

#17

I technical writing, you are strongly encouraged to always place the meaning of any abbreviation the first time you use the abbreviation. For example: “Libre Office (LO)”.

I have no idea what DF stands for.

#19

DF = direct formatting

#7

LibreOffice Writer is a word processor, not a typewriter. If, however, a user really wants to misuse the tool, and instead of correctly use formatting (e.g., define spacing to be exactly 2 lines if they want that), they insist on inserting content (newlines) that would serve as a fake formatting (i.e., they never learned proper electronic document classes, to replace their typewriting classes, together with cuneiform classes) - they need to go through all the pre-defined styles, define the wanted properties (e.g., no spacing), and save the resulting document as (default) template.

Since this is definitely not the intended use scenario for the program, there is no way there will be a control to make it in one click. People may, though, share their templates on LibreOffice Extensions site.

A bit of technical detail: many operations (like creating paragraph after headings / tables, or creating tables, and so on) also select specific paragraph styles. So making those styles formatted as user needs (and generally learning styles) is needed for the most efficient work with the tool.

#8

Yes it is. Think of it as the follow on to a typewriter. Typewriter 2.0, now with extraordinary extra features.

Not misusing it or turning off the feature would not be present. You are being insulting.

How many times do I need to state that that does not work for “space between paragraphs”?

When did I state I wanted to do it one one click? And it is intended as an option. No one is misusing the program.

Here is an idea, instead of insulting me, how about telling me how to purge my document of the feature or just tell me there is no way to do so. And do not tell me to create a new template. That does not work with this feature. You insert a new line in the middle of something and paragraph spacing is returned. This feature wastes my time by the bucket load.

#9

It works.
Show the exact scenario: provide your template, and sequence of actions to get the problem. I will look at the description, try to reproduce, and - most likely - will show what needs to be changed in the template; or - it is possible, too - will find a bug, and file a bug report. In any case: it is intended, expected, designed to work.

Absolutely no. Electronic documents are absolutely orthogonal to typewriters. The latter are about putting black paint in specific shapes to sheets of paper. The former are about creating structured information. The final output to paper is just one possible use of the end result of the word processors. No fixed layout. No physical paper. No requirement to use keyboard.

The whole intent behind the word processors is to change the way of working on documents - from trying to think about formatting first (something absolutely inevitable in case of typewriter, where what you type is fixed), into thinking about semantics of text, with ability to re-layout, re-format, at any later stage. The change of the paradigm is so fundamental, that trying to think of word processor as “Typewriter 2.0” is the direct misuse of the tool.

My strong suspicion is that all your “that does not work” is just fixation on the word “template”, without seeing the more important word “style”.

3 Likes
#10

And @ToddAndMargo probably never read the Writer Guide where basic information can be gathered (unfortunately not oriented towards the difference in paradigm between semantics and formatting).

In addition, the complete label for the complained-about feature is Do not add space between paragraphs of the same style. The latter emboldened part is the most important.

But we can assume nothing about the way how Writer is effectively used. It is likely that the whole document is single-styles, in which case the nuance about spacing between paragraphs becomes irrelevant. It is also very likely that text is poisoned by direct formatting. Only a sample file could provide some hint.

I notice that @ToddAndMargo seems to be very reluctant to follow rules or understand subtleties as, though warned about the difference between Answer and Comment (for community’s benefit), he has persisted to use Answers as if this site was a forum. Some effort is necessary to break “muscle memory” to adapt for XXIth century tools.

#11

In the process of creating a file/template for you to work with, I double checked if the templates are still adding the space, I found that the template is now working. That is a big relief. I do not know what revision of writer this happened in, but I am glad to see it. I did not change my template.

Now how do I purge existing documents?

#12

I did not realize that the balloon was “reply”. I was looking for a rectangular button that had “reply” written inside it. You will notice that I have started using it after being told it was there.

#13

You are slicing the baloney real thin. Writer is called a “word processor” for a reason. Word processors are the follow on to typewriters and a whole lot more useful.

#16

The purpose of a typewriter and a word processor is to put words on a page, be it paper or electronic. They are both “word processors”. What you are stating is just how far and how marvelous the electronic form has come. But the purpose does not change. We are still processing “words”

Good luck with that. I complain about this issue frequently and over a number of years. That my template magically started working as I expected, means our intrepid heroes fix the issue.

#18

Anyone know how I can purge my current documents of this annoying feature?

#20

I would not blame you for dumping Libre Office for this most annoying problem.

Instead of providing a solution, the advice here has been to submit to default “styles” that might suit a potential reader, (as well as solutions that simply do not work, which are not helpful).

If you are still about, (and, for those who might seek a solution, here, later), this is my suggestion:

Go to the head (top) of your text document).
Select “Styles.”
Under “Styles,” select “Edit Styles.”
In the box that appears, select the tab marked “Indents & Spacing.”
At “Line Spacing,” select “Single.”
Check the box below this to “Activate page line-spacing.”
Watch out that Libre Office may re-adjust the “Spacing” above to add space between paragraphs; so, if it does this, (automatically, just to frustrate your efforts), set these settings back to “0.00” above and below the paragraphs.
Click “Apply,” and see that your new settings for this text document show “Line Spacing” as “Single,” with a check in “Activate page line-spacing,” and, the settings for “Spacing” are “0.00” above and below the paragraphs.
Select “Okay.”

That should change your text document back to something more like a typewriter, (if you just want a simple blank line to separate your paragraphs or lines of text, without adding some extra space and without changing other formatted items, such as italicized text).

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