How to specify Master page depending on odd or even first page

[timkelly5446]

We've set up our books to delete empty pages and so that we have chapters starting on both odd and even pages. Also, the first pages of our chapters are formatted differently than the rest of the Left and Right Master pages. We would like to have two Master pages for the first page of the chapter, one for odd pages and the other for even, so that we can offset the margins, leaving a larger margin on the side towards the binding.

My question is how do I set up the book so that when it generates, if the chapter starts on an odd page, it automatically applies the Master page for odd first pages and when the first page is even, it applies the Master page for even first pages?

We have FramMaker 8 and are running it on Windows XP Professional.

Thanks,

Tim

[Art Campbell]

Assuming that you want this to happen automagically, I'd use the system default Right and Left Master pages as your chapter opener pages because Frame will apply those automatically depending on how the pages and chapters fall in the book. Then set up the internal chapter pages with whatever other structure you're using and apply those internal masters to the normal content that as you go.

If you can't do that for some reason, I would look at doing it with a FrameScript that goes through the book and applies the alternating pages as a final production step.

You could set up the first tag in the chapter to call a specific master page, but that would be manual and could quickly go south if any chapters ahead of a given chapter change the pagination. It would have to be manual because a given tag can only call one master page -- there isn't a way to apply logic to call one or the other depending on the situation.

[Arnis Gubins]

With FM8, you should use the MasterPage mapping page table to force FM to apply your desired master pages to the first page based upon the paratag used for the chapter title.You can set this to be applied at the book level so when regenerating after content changes the correct left/right custom first pages will be applied.

Look at the section "Assigning master pages to body pages containing paragraph tags" in the FM8 help for more details.

No need for Framescript to do this...

[Art Campbell]

Arnis,

I don't disagree with you very often, but on this one I have to.

How can you get the single opening chapter tag to determine whether to apply a RightFirst or a LeftFirst master page? You can have one tag call one master page, but not decide which one to call, AFAIK.

So I think your solution would require two tags, a Left and a Right, each calling a separate master... and that would have to be implemented manually.

Art

[Arnis Gubins]

Art,

My MasterPage Mapping table has a column for specifying the Right (or Single) page and the Left page per paratag.

Is yours different?

[Art Campbell]

Actually, neither of the docs I have on-screen have any para > page mapping table.

If you're does though, I'll defer to you because I was speaking from memory, which may be faulty, or remembering a single-sided document or something.

Art

[Arnis Gubins]

Art,

FM doesn't have this mapping table in the blank templates by default. But the first time one selects the Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages... option, FM automatically adds the table and inserts a new Reference page (MasterPageMaps).

[timkelly5446]

Hi Arnis,

Thank you for your input.

I'm trying to implement your solution and have taken the stepsfor modifying the Master Page Map table. Unfortunately, I'm running into a small problem when I try to test it. I've done everything I know of to set the files to delete empty pages so that the chapter ends in an odd page but for some reason, when I generate the book, the setting is overriden and reset to make pages even? Do you know what setting I'm missing?

I've gone through Format > Page Layout > Pagination from the book file and from the individual file. I've also done it from right-clicking.

Thanks,

Tim

[Arnis Gubins · Accepted solution]

Tim,

It depends upon your Book settings. If the next chapter is set to start on the Right page, then if the prior chapter ends on an odd page (i.e. Right), FM has to add a Left page. Book settings always trump file settings. You need to specify Next available page at the book level for all files (after the first chapter) if you want seamless transitions with no extra pages being inserted. However, you may have some chapters starting on the Left side, so make certain that you have both a right and left First master page defined and used in your mapping table.

[timkelly5446]

Thank you Arnis

[timkelly5446]

Hi Arnis,

I cleaned up my pagination problem and started the procedure for modifying the Master Page Map table. When I go to apply the Master Pages, I get a dialog box that tells me it can't apply them because some of the Master PAges don't exist.

I thought this was weird so I took a fresh template where I hadn't modified anything yet and tried to apply the Master Pages again and I got the same message, so what I did during the procedure did not cause this problem. Do you know how to rectify the non-existant Master Page problem?

Thanks,

Tim

[Arnis Gubins]

FrameMaker is case-sensitive, so make sure that you've spelled the master page names exactly as they are entered (even a spurious space at the end of the name will affect this). Also check that all of the master pages are defined in the files that you are trying to apply these in.

[lsk2002]

Can you also do this with a running header? Our docs are set up so that the first heading is

always in the header. But, we also have Replacement Parts pages that we only want Replacement Parts

to be in the header and not the title of the part. Replacement Parts is only on  the frist page and then

each one after that only has the part number and name ect.... so, in the TOC, Replacement Parts is the

Heading 1 and the parts themselves are Heading 2.  I set up two new master pages...an odd and even....with

Replacement Parts in the header. Is there an easier way.....so that I don't have to manually apply the odd

or even Master Replacement Parts page?

As you know...we have only been using FM9 for a few months and are still learning everyday....

Thanks,

ls

[Arnis Gubins]

The paratags used as triggers must be in the main text flow. Paratags within tables are not used (each table cell is its own flow).

If the part no. tags are on your required pages, use those as the triggers. It might also make things more maintainable if you used tag names based upon what the content represents (Parts) instead of how you're trying to use it (Heading 2).

The master pages mapping feature has been available since FM7.0.

[lsk2002]

Thanks...I will give it a try...I meant we have only used any kind of FM for a couple of months....lol...we have been using Interleaf....

soooo this is all new....

ls

[lsk2002]

I made a new dicussion on this since this one showed answered.

TOC doesn't work using master pages with specific para tags.

[Arnis Gubins]

In TOCs, except for the first paratag entered manually, FM always re-writes the contents. So if you want the correct master pages applied, you have to select one of the xxxTOC format paratags for pages after the first one. On the first page, you can use whichever paratag that you specified for the first line heading (H2, if I'm following you correctly). The MasterPage Mapping table then needs to be recreated for the TOC to use the paratags that you have here.

It's good practice in the TOC to delete all of the other unused paratags (i.e. except for the heading(H2?), header, footer ones) so that you have essentially only xxxTOC type of tags in the paragraph catalog. This will make things less confusing and a bit easier to maintain.

[lsk2002]

My pages work great, they use the correct master pages. It is the toc that has the trouble. It doesn't recognize the tab.

I have inserted a pic of the table thinking I did what you said...is this correct? It didn't help my TOC...so I guess I don't know what you are saying.

Thanks,

ls

[carolmakow]

Does anyone know how to get a superscript or subscript asterisk into an equation? Thanks.

Carol

[Guest]

Carol, it's difficult for us to answer your question within somebody else's thread, it confuses eveybody -- please post your question in a new thread, with an appropriate title.

Sheila