Difference between revisions of "Documentation/UserGuide/Formatting"

Revision as of 16:27, 24 June 2014

Introduction

In Apache OpenOffice it is possible to work in two different ways: applying format directly through the use of menus and toolbars, or through the use of styles.

Direct formatting seems easier, but can be problematic on complex documents. Styles seem complex, but are a really powerful tool that's easy to use once you get used to them: let's see why

Direct Format vs. Styles

The simplest way to understand how styles work is through a text document, but the concept is valid for all Apache OpenOffice components.

Suppose we're writing a long document with many chapters, and each chapter contains several sub-levels. The chapter heading needs to be written in a particular sans serif font (like Liberation Sans, Arimo, Arial...), in bold, and at large size. The body text must be in a particular, and smaller, serif font (tinos, times, or others).

While it is possible to do that with direct formatting, two specific problems arise: one of consistency (used 14 point instead of 16 for a heading, forgot to use bold...) and, perhaps more problematic, one of maintenance. If afterwards you decide to change the typeface, or its size, or the page margins...you'll need to do a lot of work.

Suppose that instead of setting "Liberation Sans, 16 point, bold, centered, five millimeters before the paragraph, three after..." we just use "Heading 1", and instead of "Liberation Serif, 11 points, justified..." we just use "Body text," having defined beforehand the specific parameters of "Heading 1" and "Body text." By separating the attributes applied to the text from the definition of those attributes the administration of documents becomes far easier. For example, to change the font used in the document we only need to modify the definition, not the document content, because that change in the definition will propagate without effort.

Beyond this, styles provide a lot more than just consistency and easy administration. They permit the creation of an automatic table of contents and numbered chapters, while allowing a particular set of graphical elements that use one style to display the same line style, or color, or associated text. Finally, styles can even be used to set the format of a particular cell on Calc. Depending on its content, such formatting is more easily done through styles than direct formatting.

Styles can be "stored" in particular documents, called "Templates," that reuse the styles definitions. Defining styles is something that seldom needs to be done, but can be used a lot.

Administration and Editing of Styles

With the exception of Apache Math, all OpenOffice programs make use of styles. These styles have their differences with each component, differences that will be treated on the corresponding chapters, but the work flow is always the same: Open the Stylist, available as a deck on the Sidebar[1] or as a standalone panel and select the style you want to apply. Applying a style:

1. Press F11
2. Select the style of your choice

or

1. Format on the top menu bar
2. Styles and Formatting

or

Click the “styles and Formatting”Deck on the sidebar

It is possible to modify an existing style or to create a new one with a simple right click

1. Open the styles and formatting panel
2. Right click inside the panel
3. Select “New” or “Modify”

You will be faced by a large selection of options, the best way to learn is to experiment and set it up to your own preference.

Templates

The immediate question after spending some time defining and modifying styles is "How can I use these styles in a new document?"

File → Templates → Save will save a copy of the current document as a template that we can use on a new document with New → Templates and documents → Templates and double clicking on the needed template.

Template:Documentation/Note

It is possible to go further and set our preferred template as the default template:

• File → Templates → Organize
  • double click "My Templates"
  • select the required template
  • click the  Commands  button
  • select "Set as Default Template."

Template:Documentation/Tip

To modify an existing template:

• File → Templates → Edit
• Double click template file

or

• File → Templates → Organize
  • Double click My Templates
  • Select template from list
  • Select Edit under  Commands .

Once the changes are ready, save the document as a normal document.

Template:Documentation/Note