Page formatting > Master pages > Editing the master page

If you want objects to appear on every page of a document or chapter, simply put them on the master page. To do so, switch to the Master pages view and insert the objects there.

Note: Only frames (text frames, picture frames, etc.) and drawings can be put on master pages. For information on how to work with these objects, see Frames and drawings.

You edit the master page as follows:

1.	Use the ribbon tab View \| Master pages to switch to the master page view.

2.	Make the desired changes. To insert a picture, for example, go to the ribbon tab Insert \| Picture; to insert text, add a text frame using the command Insert \| Text frame, etc.

3.	When you are finished, choose the ribbon command View \| Standard to exit the master page view (alternatively: right-click to open the context menu and select Exit Master Page view).

All objects that you inserted on the master page will now appear on all pages of the document.

By the way, both the header and the footer are also parts of the master page. Apart from the fact that they are automatically positioned in the top and bottom margins, they basically behave like text frames inserted into the master page.

Different master pages in the same document

The master page applies to the whole document by default. If you want to use different master pages within a single document, the document must be divided into chapters because each chapter has its own master page. For more information, see Dividing a document into chapters.

There, you will also learn how to set up a master page that applies only to the first page of the document, and how to create different master pages for the left-hand and right-hand pages of the document.

Tip: In the Master pages view, the type of master page is displayed on the top of each master page. If, for example, Write displays "Chapter 7", right master page" there, the page itself is the master page for all right-hand pages in chapter 7.

Locking master page objects in standard view

Objects that have been placed on a master page may be "locked" if desired in order to prevent them from being moved accidentally with the mouse when the document is being edited in standard view.

To do so, choose the ribbon command File | Properties and switch to the View tab in the dialog box. Enable the option Lock objects on master page in the section Locking.

Once locked, master page objects can be neither moved nor resized when the document is edited in standard view. They can be changed only in the Master pages view (ribbon command View | Master pages).

Note: This setting affects only the current document.

Tip: Showing document text

By default, the master page does not display the document content from the standard view. If you still want to see this text (and the objects) of your document displayed here in order to orient yourself better, Write provides the following function:

Simply right-click in the document in the master view and enable the command Show document text in the context menu. If you click on this command again, the display will be disabled.

The display of this content does not affect the components of the master view and is merely a visual aid. You also cannot edit this displayed content in the master view.