span pages setting for master page mapping table

[jay fresno]

Can anyone give me an example of how Span Pages should be set up on a master page? Do you type in the page numbers you want the master page to span? Does the master get applied to all pages that contain the paragraph tag specified, even if the pages are not contiguous?

[Bob_Niland]

re: ... how Span Pages should be set up on a master page?

Are you referring to the Range Indicator column of the UnstrucMasterPageMaps table on Reference Page MasterPageMaps?

If so, the manual that Adobe used to supply and maintain says that the only three terms used in it are:

Single {or blank} - one page only

Span pages

Until Changed

I've not used Span pages, and it's not obvious how that differs from Single.

[Arnis Gubins · Accepted solution]

The Span Pages directive differs from the Single in that it tells FM to keep applying the designated master page when the paratag splits/spans across a page. This would also include anything inserted in that paratag, such as having a multi-page Landscape table inserted in a single anchor paratag.

[Bob_Niland]

re: This would also include anything inserted in that paratag, such as having a multi-page Landscape table inserted in a single anchor paratag.

Thanks Arnis. In that connection, it's worth mentioning that para tags inside tables are ignored for master page mapping. The usual workaround is to use the anchoring para as the trigger.

But back traffic on this suggests also using a trailing para (which doubles as table bottom spacer). Why would that be necessary if Span pages does the trick?

[Arnis Gubins]

The trailing paratag may be to reset the master pages back or apply another special layout to the last page of a table. Otherwise Span pages works.

Another caveat is when applying the master page mapping table causes any trigger paratag to move off a page, FM throws an error (reports it in the Book Error Log document - even for a single file) and applies the default L/R  master.

[Bob_Niland]

re: ... master page mapping table causes any trigger paratag to move off a page, FM throws an error ...

It really has no choice, as many such cases would otherwise result in an infinite loop:
doesn't fit: move off & remap
would fit now: move back & remap
doesn't fit ...

So FM resorts to "do it once" (and applies a similar policy to imports, where recursion is a real hazard).

Another aspect of the MP mapping table is that the first mapped tag encountered on a page wins (and the search order can get iffy if the mapped tags are in Flows other than A.

The way MP mapping works in FM probably strikes most users as some hack that was added at FM 2.0 (which actually appears to be the case). These users might wonder:

1. Why doesn't FM apply it automatically, and
2. Why isn't the MP assignment part of the Paragraph Designer dialog.

3. Why doesn't MP MasterPageMaps at least exist by default

(1) Doing it automatically opens up the loop risk.

(2) Making it part of the para tag would raise the question of how to set priority in case of conflicts.

(3) Has no answer obvious to me.

[Arnis Gubins]

Master Page mapping functionality was added in FM7.

[For the benefit of users not that familiar with this topic]

(1) The MP mapping can be set to be automatically applied during Book updates.

(2) The order in the Mapping Table determines which MP gets applied, i.e. first tag wins, so users need to keep this in mind when filling in the table.

(3) Whether or not the MasterPage Mapping table is present is totally dependent upon which file you use as a template when you first create a document. If it is not present, using the Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages... will add one to the Reference pages.

[Bob_Niland]

re: Master Page mapping functionality was added in FM7.

It must have been manual before that (multiple MPs is shown as a 2.0 feature in a history I found).

re: (1) The MP mapping can be set to be automatically applied during Book updates.

You still have to elect it, but the big problem is that it's unstable at the book level in FM7. In my recent day job (a shop still on FM7.1), MPs would often be found to be incorrect if done during Update Book. Unless that's something fixed after 7.1, it's safer to do it at the file level.

re: (3) Whether or not the MasterPage Mapping table is present is totally dependent upon what file you use as a template ...

New out-of-box default was the case I had in mind.