[scribus] Using Scribus for a newsletter

Sat Sep 20 03:06:15 CEST 2008

I want to suggest thinking about this newsletter creation process in a
different way.  I am going to try to describe a process that does not
include, for the moment, the specific details of any application.

Let's say I want a 4 page newsletter.  I open my DTP application (it could
be Scribus, it could be InDesign, it could be a number of other
possibilities).  Let's say also that this is the first time I attempt to
create this newsletter--that is, I have no previous documents, no templates
with which to start.

When I open the application for the first time, I will be looking at a
single page (there are exceptions, but for the moment, I am not going to
consider them).

It is at this point--not later--that I add pages to my document.  Each
application has a different set of keystrokes/mouseclicks to do this, but
the point is, add 3 pages (for a 4 page newsletter) before you take any
other steps.  This is also probably a good time to save my document--which
is completely blank--with an appropriate file name; e.g., Oct08Nsltr.  My
"document" is now synonymous with "file," even though it contains no
content.

OK.  I want my newsletter to have a logo and name on page 1, and I want that
logo and name to be always in the same place on page 1.  Therefore, I do NOT
put those items on page 1.  I put them on a master page.  When I first
create that master page with any graphics and text, it exists independently
of the other 4 pages in my document (which are still blank).  Think of that
master page as a 5th page.  When I am satisfied with the look of the master
page--and remember, I include only unchanging items (again, with some
exceptions, for the moment ignored) on that master page--I then apply that
master page to page 1.

When I then look at page 1, I see all the items on page 1 that I entered
into the master page.  I cannot change those master page items while I am on
page 1 (If I need to make changes to any master page item, I must go back to
the master page to do so).

But I can add more content to page 1, either text or graphics, by adding a
text or graphics frame to page 1 and then filling that frame with
appropriate content.  I can do that with any page that has a master page
applied to it.  That way, the unchanging content is protected from
inadvertent changes, and will remain precisely positioned for every
subsequent issue.

Note that at this point I have made no mention of a template.

I will try to walk through your process and see if I can explain the
differences between your description and mine.

"Here's my problem. I bring up the template for my first page, and put text
and a photo on it. Then I want to add a second page, but I want it to be a
copy of another template, the one I have set up with header and page number
to be a left-side inside page."

I think you are, at the moment, tangled up in definitions.

Don't think of a template as something you use for a single page--at least
for a multipage newsletter, or any multipage document.

If you start with 4 blank pages (for a 4 page newsletter), then there is no
need (although it is possible) to add pages later.  OK.  Let's say you have
a master page for the front page (or title page).  Lets say also that you
want a "header" on the following pages, but you want the "left side" page
header to look different than the "right side" page header (or they can be
the same).

The way to accomplish this is to create another master page; call it "Body
Text," or 2 new master pages, "Body Text Left" and "Body Text Right."  You
place the header and the command that creates page numbers automatically
into that (or those) master page(s).  At this point, other than page 1 with
the Title Master page info, all the pages are still blank.  Now apply the
Body Text master page(s) to pages 2 to 4.  Pages 2 to 4 will have the header
information--and nothing else.  And I have still not mentioned the word
template.

At this point, you can save the document--with all 4 pages, mostly
blank--with another name, such as Nsltr_template (Scribus has "Save as
template" option).  But before you go any further, close the template--which
is a document containing, at the very least, master pages--and make sure you
are working on Oct08Nsltr.

To add more content to any of the pages (e.g, "text and a photo"), place
text and/or graphics frames where you want them on pages 1 to 4 (not on the
master pages), and then place the appropriate content into those frames.
Remember that at this point all 4 pages have some content in them that came
from a master page, PLUS the additional content you just added.

"The only way I can get a copy of the page I want for my page two is to
bring up the template for it, convert it to a master, then click on page and
apply master. THEN I can choose my page two, but all I have then is a
two-page document  that consists of two copies of my page 2."

If you start with 4 pages, create how ever many master pages you want, and
then apply those master pages to blank existing pages, THEN add more
content, I think you will avoid the confusion created by the process you
describe.  I repeat:  don't think of a template as something you use for a
single page--at least for a multipage newsletter, or any multipage
document.  Think of a template as a collection of formatting, text and
graphics for a complete document.

I can offer a few comments on some details, although I am not an experienced
Scribus user.  Other contributors to this list may have better suggestions.
When you open Scribus (I am using v.1.3.3.11 for Windows), the New Document
dialog box is displayed.  In the Document Layout panel on the left side of
the box, select single page.  In the Options section at the upper right of
the box, enter 4 pages.  Then click OK.

To create a master page, Click on Edit/Master Pages.  The small box that is
displayed has several icons just below the title bar.  Click on the first
one, which is "Add a new master page."  Give it a name (e.g., Title) and
click OK.  At this point, my inexperience shows up.  I have not yet learned
to move between master pages and body text pages.  Hopefully, one of the
other messages in this thread, together with the tutorial, will provide the
necessary information.

I hope my view of the DTP process helps.

You may find it helpful to see another newsletter that uses master pages
(created with InDesign CS3).  If you connect to
http://frpcug.org/k-byte/current.pdf, you will see the 12 page newsletter I
described in an earlier message.  The logo at the top left, the name at top
center, the photo at top right, the logo near the bottom left, and a few
other items on page 1 are all on a master page.  Most everything else was
added directly to page 1.  On subsequent pages, you will see the page
number, publication name and date at the bottom of each page.  I used master
pages for those items, with all other content added directly to the page.  I
don't claim that this method is the only method to create a newsletter--only
that it works for me.  Note, however, that this newsletter is published only
to the web site--that is, no hard copies--so you don't see a page
arrangement suitable for printing (you don't see the imposition required for
printing).

On Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 4:44 PM, Joe Ward <bluegrass_joe at yahoo.com> wrote:

>   Thanks,  Mike. That's nicely explained in measured tones, and I
> appreciate the effort you put into it.
>
>   Here's my problem. I bring up the template for my first page, and put
> text and a photo on it. Then I want to add a second page, but I want it to
> be a copy of another template, the one I have set up with header and page
> number to be a left-side inside page.
>
>  I click on "page,"  and "insert." That lets me get a  copy of the "normal"
> template, which does not contain my formating, or of something called Page
> 1, which appears identical to the "normal" one.
>
>  So I try "Apply Master Page," having previously converted a copy of my
> inside left template to a master page.  But again, the only options I am
> given are for "normal" and "Page 1" pages, which are just blank pages.
>
>   I look at the insert menu beside the page menu, and there is no help
> there.
>
>   The only way I can get a copy of the page I want for my page two is to
> bring up the template for it, convert it to a master, then click on page and
> apply master. THEN I can choose my page two, but all I have then is a
> two-page document  that consists of two copies of my page 2.
>
>    I know there is an easy answer to this, but we don't seem to be
> communicating, and I can't figure it out from the help file. If I have the
> first page of a document, how do I add pages of my own choosing to the
> document?
>
>   There has got to be a reasonable way.
>
>                                                                        -Joe
> Ward
>
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> scribus at lists.scribus.net
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>
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