Setting column guides in Pagemaker

Setting up column guides

You create columns to control the flow of text in text blocks that you place automatically, and to help position text and graphics. How you specify columns is determined by the command you use.

Working with newsletters and brochures often requires the use of columns. While you can create columns manually by setting your text block’s width, this process can be made easier by creating columns. As you create columns with PageMaker, a set of guides (like the page margins) are added to the page. When you first create your document, its default is one column per page. PageMaker provides the option of creating up to 20 columns on a single page. Between each column will be a “gutter.” The gutter adds some white space between each column so text will not appear on top of the next column. If you are using the columns for a brochure, these gutters should be larger to add space for folding. 

NOTE: If you want to set columns for all pages of your document, set them on the master pages.

Command to Create Columns:

Layout > Column Guides

 

This command creates a specified number of columns of identical widths, fitting them within the margins of the page. If text or graphics are already on the page, PageMaker can reposition them to align with the revised column setup if you select Adjust Layout in the Column Guides dialog box. See Adjusting a layout automatically for details.

The Utilities > Plug-ins > Grid Manager command fits columns within any area you specify, or creates columns of a specified width.

You can create up to 20 columns on a page.

To save time and ensure consistency, add column guides to master pages rather than to specific publication pages.

Setup columns on a page:

(1)Turn to the publication page or master page where you want the columns.

(2)Choose Layout > column Guides. When facing pages appear in the publication window and you choose Column Guides, then Set Left and Right Pages separately option appears so that you can set columns differently for each page.

Type the number of columns you want on the page and the space you want between columns (the gutter). If you are setting left and right pages separately , type values for both pages.

Select Adjust Layout if you want existing text and graphics on the page to adjust to the revised column setup and then click OK. PageMaker creates the specified number of columns, equally spaced and equally sized.

Commands To Lock or Unlock Column and ruler guides:

Choose View > Lock Guides.

Note: The columns can be custom spaced. Just click on the left mouse button and drag into position. Release the mouse when the positioning is made.