Is there any way in Framemaker to create different page sizes ( say A4 & A3) simultaneously, either as body pages or master pages, in a long, multi-page document ? The long pages (A3 size) will be folded and tucked inside to fit the width of the A4 size page. Is there something obvious that I am missing ?
There are a couple of methods, but the easiest one for me is to create different files for the different page sizes.
It's easy to hide this within a book file because you can adjust the volume/chapter/page numbering and each file's pagination settings so the multiple files are treated as a single chapter.
If I print a book file that has one file as A4 and the other as A3 how can I print the book in one pass as there seems to be no way to activate the printer to select the source files page size so after printing I get only one size output with consequent silly appearance. This also applies when creating a PDF.
I actually have a book with 300 pages of mixed size files so would appreciate an answer to this otherwise it becomes tiring printing.
Another problem that comes up when you need several documents for the same chapter: how do you handle the running H/F variables for chaper titles? I use Running H/F variables for the chapter title etc, but can't use these in the A3 file (I think?) and have to repeat the chapter name in the A3 file, either by typing into the A3 master page manually or using a custom editable variable. The latter not being an option for me because I want the variables to be the same across the book, and obviously the chapter names will not be the same across the book 🙂
You can use the Print selected files command. First select all the files in the book that use the first page size, then File > Print selected files. Then do the same thing for the files that use the other size. Of course, you will have to collate the pages after the printing, but the printing requires just two steps. Creating PDFs works the same way, but the "collating" may be a little more complicated, especially if the odd-sized pages are not clustered within the book.
Ian,
Whether the printer adjusts to different page sizes automatically is a function of the printer, not Frame. A number of printers that have feeds for different size sheets will automatically adjust for you, provided you select "automatic" for your page size preference.
If the PDF is for print, then I wouldn't worry about it either -- set the file up to print with crop marks and print it on your larger sheet size.
If the PDF is for online customer viewing, I'd probably do the same thing but without crop marks and either:
* Use Acrobat to crop the small pages out of the larger page size. Although you can add different size pages here and there as required, that's more fiddly and time consuming than cropping sets of pages in batch mode.
or
* let the reader use their copy of Acrobat Reader to set the magnification setting -- the default setting is "automatic."
Since each of the larger pages needs to be folded to the smaller size, it seems as though Van's solution (print selected files in two passes) is ideal. Having said that, it seems that there is a lot of work involved irregardless of the printer's automatic capabilities.
1. Different page sizes in a book: Start with one size with files in a book, and if you want to change, then create a new file in book, and then come back with a further file in a book. Numbering etc. is doable.
2. Different page sizes in a book to PDF: That is also doable, BUT note, that you must select CMYK color convert in RGB AND the maximum of paper page size must be selected in Distiller, not till then you can Save book as PDF with different page size with one click.
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