NewDeal Hot Tip 1906

[Hot Tips for...] NewWrite

NewWrite Text Frame Tips

Every page in a NewWrite document has at least one text frame. By default, a new document has one text frame, the dotted line box that we probably think more in terms of delineating our margins.

We can have NewWrite automatically divide that default text frame into smaller frames by selecting to have 2 or more Columns in Page Setup, or we can do it manually by using the Pointer tool to select the frame by left-clicking anywhere on the frame's perimeter or boundary (the dotted line).

When a text frame is selected, the familiar object handles appear. Work with these handles to resize or move the text frame just as you would a graphics object: a text frame is simply a special kind of rectangle.

Text flows automatically and sequentially from one frame to the next, in the order of the which frames were created first. It is not possible to re-order text flow, but it is possible to rearrange the order of existing frames.

Unless you are working with a multi-page document which has already been created, you will want to start laying out a new multi-page document by invoking DTP Mode under Other in the Options menu. This allows you to create additional pages in your document (under the Layout menu) before you even begin composing.

With several pages open, moving frames is simply a matter of selecting them, grabbing the center handle, and dragging them down to the page desired.

Two tips on working with frames in this manner

  1. Each frame requires its own space. Overlapping two frames doesn't produce desired results. So when you move a frame down to a new page, remember to make room for it by resizing the existing frame on the new page.
  2. NewWrite is smart. Whether you have one frame on a page or 20 frames on a page, it knows when there is no more room on a page for text. When this happens, it will ignore your frame moving instructions and do the smart thing: push text down to the next available frame, usually on the next page.
Here's an example:
  1. You have a document set up for 3 columns and you've already filled the three columns with text.
  2. You decide you want to have 4 columns on that page, and that you want text to flow from the first column to a NEW second column before flowing on to existing columns 2 and 3.
  3. You create a new text frame from the first column and expect text to flow backwards from the existing column 2 to the new second text frame. But that doesn't happen.
  4. Instead, text flows from column 3 to the new second text frame, essentially bringing text up from the first column on page 2.
This happens because there was no more room on Page 1 for text, it was already filled up with three columns that spanned the entire page, and NewWrite knows it.

What to do:

Before creating your new second text frame, make space for it on the page by resizing one or more of the existing frames. (How much space? On a 3-Column page filled with text, space equal to at least 1/3 to 1/2 the size of an existing frame.) You can make more space than is needed, then resize the frames to the desired layout.

To create a new text frame, simply select the frame, then choose Copy, then choose Paste.

Do not use the frame on the clipboard to create more than one frame. Each new frame has to be created individually, and always by copying the frame you want text to flow FROM.

So let's say you're starting out with a new document with its default page frame. You want to have 3 irregularly shaped frames on the page.

First, resize and position the page frame, either to the exact size and place you want it, or simply to make space on the page for additional frames.

Second, select the resized frame, Copy and Paste. You now have two frames, and text will flow automatically from the first to the second.

To make the third frame, select the SECOND frame (the one you just created), choose Copy and then Paste. You'll now have 3 frames with text flowing sequentially from the original first frame to the second frame and onto the third before moving to the frame on the next page.

NOTE: Instead of using Copy and Paste, you can simply hit the D key to duplicate the selected frame.


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Last Modified 7 Mar 1999