What is difference between adjusting columns these two ways?

[Jessie2020]

Hi everyone,

In my last post I learned that I could create a new Master Page that is designed as a 1-column format and apply it to the body pages I want to have as 1-column. (I have a doc that has 2-column formatted L and R master pages; only 1 page at the very end, the Study Guide, needs to be 1-column formatted).

I recently learned from the Adobe lesson book that if I am in the body page that I want to change from a 2-col to a 1-column format, I can go Graphics>Object Properties and this brings up the Customize Text Frame window where I can change the number of columns to 1 and click set. I found this a lot easier than creating a new Master Page.

What is the difference between applying a one-column design to one page using each of these methods, applying a 1-column master page versus just changing the number of columns as described above? Is one wrong or better than the other?

Thank you for your help!!

[Bob_Niland]

There are 3 basic* ways of obtaining a custom layout for specific pages:

1. hack the local column layout
2. apply a new master Page as a local override:
   Format > Page Layout > Master Page Usage > Use Master Page
3. map the new MP in semi-automatically:
   Format > Page Layout > Apply Master Pages (AMP)
   

1 & 2 are not stable. Unless it's a disconnected flow, adding or deleting text prior to that page can cause your special-needs text to re-flow onto a page with normal Left/Right layout (and unexpected text flowing onto your special layout).

1 is also at risk from an update to the Left/Right MPs themselves.

3 requires that some paragraph on the special-needs page have a unique format name (say, "Heading2_Single"). After you perform your first AMP, an UnstructMasterPageMaps table is created on Reference Page MasterPageMaps. Add the special para name, and the special MP name to it. Thereafter, AMP will make sure that text gets the page it needs.

You can also perform an AMP during Update Book.

It is not reliable in FM 7.x. I don't know about later versions.

I always use technique #3, and perform a separate AMP as part of the pre-print workflow.

________

* You can also fake the layout in some cases, on the normal page layout, by putting the special needs flow in a table or text frame within an anchored Frame. Anchor to an Across-All-Columns format as needed. It wouldn't be Framemaker if there weren't at least 5 ways of getting the same result .

[Jessie2020]

Thanks for always helping out, Error.

I get #3. So does that mean that just changing the column number under the graphics menu as I described in considered "hacking up" the layout? I noticed that when I do that, the body page looks like 1-column but its master page is still one of the 2-column master pages.

[Bob_Niland]

So does that mean that just changing the column number under the  graphics menu as I described in considered "hacking up" the layout?

It's an "override". Overrides are generally worth avoiding, because it's all too easy for them to get reset to the basic page/frame/paragraph/character/color/whatever when updating something else many pages away, or when you otherwise need to update the underlying format document-wide (because the Art Director has had yet another fontificant flight of fancy).

I  noticed that when I do that, the body page looks like 1-column but its  master page is still one of the 2-column master pages.

Yes, that frame is still identified as the base Left or Right column layout frame, and is ready and willing to revert with little provocation.

The Master Page Mapping (AMP) table approach is robust, if not entirely automagic.

AMP is just a little intimidating at first use, largely because the darn table and Ref Page aren't even THERE until you put the cart before the horse and perform the first AMP attempt. You get a harmless apparent error message, just to enhance the intimidation.

[Jessie2020]

Ahh, so that would be an override. Thank you, Error!

I understand now. I will work on the method you suggest and see how it goes. This is a slow process for me, and yes, I do find that this program is kinda scary sometimes ("Are you sure? because there's no UNDO for this!") but I'm just keeping those backup files in case I make a mistake.

Have a great day and thanks again.

[JohannesKrueger]

I do find that this program is kinda scary sometimes ("Are you sure? because there's no UNDO for this!")

If the "can't undo" alert gets too annoying, you can disable it in File > Preferences > General. Deselect "Show warnings while clearing history", and you won't be bothered any further.

[Jessie2020]

Thanks Johannes

[Bob_Niland]

>> It wouldn't be Framemaker if there weren't at least 5 ways of getting the same result.

In this specific case, where you want a single-column layout, presuming that it is the full width of the default 2-column layout, you can get it by having the 1-col content use alternate paragraph formats that specify "Across All Columns" in the pagination. If this work for you (and it does for us), you don't need AMP for that content.

There are even more ways of doing it (like Text Insets and imported EPS and PDF text objects), but let's stay away from the deep end of the pool if we can.