Is it possible to have a single document in Writer with multiple independent pages?

[andybay]

Hi!

The default mode in LibreOffice Writer is that all content is written in a single long document, where adding more content at the top will push down content below it. This can become a little bit stressful when you have long documents with hundreds of pages. There is a real danger of doing a mistake that will mess up the document somewhere where it won’t be discovered until later.

This stress brings forth my question:
Is it possible to edit a single document in a way where the pages are not co-dependent but that each section can be it’s own independent “sheet” kind of like you can have several independent tabs/sheets in a spreadsheet document?
Thank you!

[Hrbrgr]

You can’t do that in Writer because there are no fixed pages.
The pages result from the continuous text.

[ajlittoz]

I don’t understand the question. You seemingly want a collection of “sub-documents” but I don’t see the purpose. Do you mean that your parts have page numbers restarting from 1? If you separate your parts with a page break, everything should behave normally.

All the styling machinery is here to help you automate formatting and layout so that adding contents results in a predictable text re-flow, keeping your formatting constraints.

The only case I see a hindrance adding contents is when you use Writer as a mechanical typewriter where vertical spacing is done with empty paragraphs and horizontal spacing with space and tab characters. Styles liberate you from this manual layout job.

So, please, edit your question to describe your workflow. While at it, mention OS name, LO version and save format.

[EarnestAl]

Maybe you want chapters with a page break before each new chapter?

[Lupp]

Regard >Insert>More Breaks...>Manual Break...

Writer documents have sequences of equally formatted pages.
The page wrapping is done automatically, but the user can force additional “hard” page breaks.
A hard page break also starts a new sequence if it got explicitly assigned a page style (whether the same or a different one) at creation. See first line of the post!

Only for such explicitly created sequences you can later change the applied page style.

You may also want to read about the Master Document feature. (Writer guide, supposed chapter 16)

[keme1]

It is possible to insert page size frames, and enter content for each page into the corresponding frame. Maintaining a document flow, with indexes, footnotes and table of contents, will be a nightmare, but if each of your pages is an independent entity it may make sense. Changes in one frame will never spill over to the next page (unless you explicitly link frames).

Think twice (or thrice) before venturing that path.

The wording of the question suggests to me that the layout of the document at hand is created in “typewriter mode”. Multiple paragraph breaks have been inserted to push content to next page. Leading tab (and possibly newline) are used to create indented paragraphs. Etc.
Editing is likely to push those inserted gaps into the middle of a page and create weird layout.

Am I right?

To correct this, you first need to know about the tools in wordprocessing which are intended to help you create a sensible content layout. Just let us know! If possible, attach your document (or an excerpt, or a copy where content is mangled beyond recognition) to your question posting. Remember that this is a public place, so avoid attaching anything with confidentiality or intellectual property issues.

[Grantler]

@andybay

edit a single document in a way where the pages are not co-dependent but that each section (!) can be it’s own independent “sheet”

IMHO you could approach your objective with

• sections
  or
• master documents / global documents.

Here you could edit the “chapters” independently. Both proceedings grant you a large reliability and stability.

[Wanderer]

I’d advise to follow @Grantler and use a Master-document, if your concern is security as you tell here

@andybay

danger of doing a mistake that will mess up the document somewhere where it won’t be discovered until later.

But @Hrbrgr is also right telling

@Hrbrgr

You can’t do that in Writer

as your request to do this in a single file

@andybay

Is it possible to edit a single document in a way

is not possible. You have to split them in several files.
.
One precaution should be mentioned: Use a versioned Backup of your files. We are no longer in times where we needed to switch floppy disks for backups. So a daily copy can usually be easily done.

[Jedimaster]

Sounds to me like a DTP program like Scribus is wanted not a Word Processor like Writer.

[anon87010807]

I’d go for a master document for cases like this. I can still remember a time, some 20 years ago, when I had to edit the beginning of a really long text and I could see the text being repainted at every keystroke. On modern computers, that shouldn’t happen. If it does, something is likely wrong with it, unless you are abusing your computer of course.

[Jazz]

I don’t have a solution for the problem, but think I have looked for the same in internet. One window with several windows inside. And all is saved and opened as one file similar to QOwnNotes. Unfortunately even MS Word doesn’t have such a possibility. If Libre had this it would be The Great Libre Writer. See below:

QOwnNotes

See y.