Hello everyone, I’m writing a book and I have a problem with the text when going from one page to the next one. In some instances, the text at the bottom doesn’t stick to the rows number (say, 40) but skips some lines (1 or 2). It doesn’t matter if in that point there is a dialogue (i.e. a new line) or a simple paragraph, the thing is not only annoying but prevents form formatting the text for print.
Is it a bug, or some settings that needs to be tweaked?
Thanks for any reply.
Usually this is caused by widow/orphan control. This is a feature to prevent too small a number of lines at bottom or top of page when a paragraph straddles a page boundary.
You can also have requested that some paragraph type be always laid out on the same page as the next one. This occurs with headings so that the heading is not orphaned at page bottom with its associated contents starting on next page.
Both behaviours are controlled by the Text Flow properties of paragraph styles.
“orphan control” sounds interesting and makes me wonder what will happen when I will add page numbers. And it makes me wonder whether I should add numbers now, instead of waiting to finish the book…
Yet, how do I apply the text-flow for the whole book, not just paragraphs?
Page numbers go into the header or footer area which borrows space from the text area, making it smaller and causing text reflow. (And I hope you don’t intend to number your pages manually otherwise you head straight into formatting hell!)
If you format your book exclusively with styles, without direct formatting which Word unfortunately foreced unto us by lack of adequate formatting principles), you’ll have no problem because everything can be controlled from styles. But as “I do not use stylesheets, just a font and font-size”, be prepared for hard times.
PS: you didn’t mention OS name, LO version nor save format. If you save .doc(x), leave any hope.
Let’s see. Surely I will put page numbers using the head/footer option.
I use latest version of Libre, and Win10, saving in odt and then will convert into pdf for printing. I will probably use stylesheet once the whole book is finished (i.e. applying one style to the whole text), but for now I’m concerned about this text flow problem.
However, I have just tested on a paragraph that breaks the lines, and have unchecked the “widow control” (so that I have orphans 2 lines + no widows). It looks the problem was solved. Is this the way, or will I discover that somethng broke somewhere?
Since updates proceed at different pace on the various platforms, this does not allow to guess which version you run. Always mention the 4-component version.
This is the worst approach because you’ll be tempted to “fix” formatting “glitches” with direct formatting. Since direct formatting has precedence over styling, applying a style will not remove DF and you’ll see no change.
Then your document is overly simple. Not even a title or some heading? Is this a typescript? Then apply immediately built-in Preformatted Text so that it looks like mechanical typewriter production.
This is the solution. Remember to forward it in your chosen paragraph style.
Thank you for the precious tips, let’s see if I got it right (by the way, I use LibreOffice 7.3.2.2 (x64):
- I have applied “widow control” to the whole book (it’s a novel, so it has just chapter numbers, i.e. a page break when they occur). While I was there I also applied “word sillabation”.
- Previously I had created my own style but I met the formatting glitches you mentioned, so I’ve been using preformatted text (with a font family/size of my choice) for some time already
This illustrates why word “latest” is meaningless. Under my Fedora 39, “latest” is presently 7.6.4.1. And even under Window$, “latest” is in the 7.6,x series.
Then you need paragraph styles for title (builtin Title), subtitle or author (Subtitle), dedication?, legalese?, chapter heading (Heading 1 even if it is reduced to a mere number with the benefit of automatic numbering so that if you reorganise your chapters, you don’t need to care), text (Body Text) and perhaps a few others for dialogue. Don’t forget Footer and Header when needed.
My suggestion of Preformatted Text was based on the assumption you wrote a synopsis for movie, radio or TV. It is a bad idea for a novel.
Regarding character styles, you need Emphasis, Strong Emphasis, perhaps Foreign Language and others related to character moods (like anger, irony, …) if you want to mark a difference in typography.
I do not use stylesheets, just a font and font-size. Plus, I cannot really upload a sample for you because the problem occurs randomly. I mean, if I extract 2 pages from the whole book, then the problem is not visible. Somehow it depends of the amount of text…