Page Layout Setup Options

This section covers everything to do with what happens inside the page margins. If you're having problems getting printing to happen how you want, the answer is probably in one of the following sections.

Specifying Portrait or Landscape Orientation

There are a lot of places you can set page orientation (portrait or landscape). It can get a little confusing, so we've provided Table 4-1 to show you (all in one place) where you can go to set document and printer margins.

Table 4-1. Orientation-setting windows

Window	Navigation	Book section/Notes
Print Options (for Page Preview mode) These settings are used only if you print using the Print icon in the Page Preview window.	In Calc, Writer, and Web with Print Layout on, choose File > Page Preview. Click the Print options page view icon.	Calc : Chapter 24, Printing in Calc , on page 623 Writer and Web : Printing Multiple Pages With Page Preview on page 428
Page Style Overrides any setting in the Printer Properties window.	In Writer, Web, Draw, Calc, and Impress, choose Format > Page.	Calc : Chapter 24, Printing in Calc , on page 623 Writer and Web : Figure 7-42 on page 234 Draw : Page Setup on page 757 Impress : Specifying Landscape or Portrait Orientation on page 745
Printer Properties Is overridden by anything in the Format > Page window.	In Linux and Solaris, open the Printer Installation window (double-click the Printer Setup icon), then click Configure. On all platforms, choose File > Printer Setup, select a printer and click Properties. Select the Paper tab.	Setting Up General Printer Options on page 59
Page Setup Determines page size, orientation, paper	All; choose Format > Page	When you switch between orientations, the paper setup can change.In general it should be either letter or A4.

Setting Margins

You can set the margins for each printer in Printer Setup (Figure 4-13 on page 61). However, most of the same windows that let you set orientation let you set margins, as well (for most applications, choose Format > Page and click the Page tab). Those settings generally override anything in the Printer Setup window.

Figure 4-13. Entering printer margins

The margin information for printers sets the maximum possible area for printing; margin information for documents can set margins within those bounds, but not outside. Keep track of the margin options for both, when you print.

If you're using headers and footers, keep in mind that those need to be within the printer margins, as well.

Note

In Draw and Impress, the margin settings occasionally go crazy and provide defaults for new documents that just aren't usable. Be sure to check margins in all documents, but in Draw and Impress in particular, if you're having problems getting the results you want.

Fitting Multiple Pages Onto One Sheet

The program provides brochure printing, handout printing, and page preview features. Use the following cross-references to find the information you need.

Table 4-2. Printing multiple pages on one sheet

Feature	Application	Navigation	Book Section	Comments
Switch to multiple columns *	Web, Writer	Format > Page, click the Columns tab.	Setting Up Multicolumn Pages on page 236.	*While not strictly speaking a two-page -per-sheet feature, this is a good way of taking an existing document and making it fit onto a page differently.
Brochure printing	Web, Writer, Impress, Draw	File > Print > Options	Printing Brochures on page 88	A bit cantankerous, and squishes the text smaller. In general, use Landscape orientation.
Handouts (similar to Page Preview)	Impress (Draw files are easily adaptable to Impress files)	Click the Handout icon on the right side of the work area	Creating Slide Handouts on page 727	Very dependable and customizable.
Page Preview (similar to Handouts)	Calc, Writer, Web	Calc : File > Page Preview Writer : File > Page Preview Web : File > Page Preview when Print Layout is activated	Calc : Figure 24-6 on page 630 Writer and Web : Printing Multiple Pages With Page Preview on page 428	Similar to brochure printing : squishes the text size, and whatever you do, choose Landscape layout. Just not all that good a feature.
Tile	Draw, Impress	File > Print > Options or Tools > Options > Drawing/Presentation > Print	See Printing Options Setup on page 848.	Be sure that your page size is smaller than the page size of the paper you'll print on, or it'll only fit once and no tiling will occur.

Fitting a Document Onto One Page

The program provides different ways for you to "scrunch" data that overflows one page so that it will print using only one sheet of paper.

Table 4-3. Information for fitting a document onto one page

Feature	Application	Navigation	Book Section
Page Setup	Calc	Calc : Format > Page > Sheet	Chapter 24, Printing in Calc , on page 623
Fit to size	Draw, Impress	File > Print > Options	Draw : Printing Options Setup on page 848 Impress : Setting Printing Options on page 745
Scale	Printer setup	File > Print, click Properties	Setting Up General Printer Options on page 59

Note

In Draw or Impress, you'll be prompted if a slide won't fit onto the page. See Selecting an Option in the Print Warning Window on page 94.

Printing Left or Right Pages, or in Reversed Order

If your printer prints pages backwards , instead of starting at 1, you can print from Web and Writer in reversed order.

You can also print only the left, or only the right, pages from Writer.

1. Choose Tools > Options > application > Print, or by choosing File > Print > Options.

   Note

   If you use the first navigation option, all subsequent documents will have the settings you apply in step 2. If you use the second navigation method, the settings will apply only to the document you're currently working with.

2. Select the Left pages, Right pages (Writer only), or Reversed options.