In most word processors, the basic unit of design is the paragraph. By contrast, in LibreOffice Writer, the basic unit is either the page or, more often, the two-page spread. This structure can be confusing for new users, who can struggle to find design elements like headers or footers. Writer takes pity on newcomers to an extent and puts some elements in the menus as well as the page styles. However, when only page styles are used, Writer becomes more of a layout app than an word processor, which makes editing easier as well.

Page Logic

Professional page design is based on a two-page spread of left and right pages, because that is what you usually see when reading a book. Although your document might be designed to be read online, a two-page spread is still the most economical display on today’s widescreen monitors. When writing, you can display a two-page spread by clicking on the icons to the left of the Zoom control on the bottom right of the Writer screen.

Custom pages can be designed for special purposes, such as the horizontal display of a map. However, most pages will be one of three styles: a first, left, or right page. A first page begins a document or chapter and usually signals its style in some way, such as a recurring image or starting halfway down the page. A first page is followed by a left page, which is followed by a right page, and then a left (Figure 1). This sequence is used by default, but can be changed in the Next Style field on each style’s Organizer tab. To restart the sequence, add Insert | Page Break and apply the necessary page style. You should also add a page break to insert another style, which will replace one of the three standard styles, and another page break to return to the original structure after a custom page. In all these circumstances, not using a page break will simply make all following pages use the last applied style.

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