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Post by BlueAndGold on Jan 1, 2020 22:09:41 GMT
It might be nice to include a MS Word Formatting Help forum in the Support Section. Word can be a beast to get Styles and Page Numbering and Headers and Footer and such working, and it seems that Word is pretty much the default processor people are using.
Ah, how I miss WordPerfect...
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Post by benziger on Jan 1, 2020 22:51:25 GMT
I would never, ever design a book with Word. At the beginning it seems to be easy, because you know the basic functions of Word from everyday life. But Word is a word processor, not a layout program. You notice that at the end, during the fine-tuning, with the last details. Of course, this also applies to other word processors such as those of LibreOffice or OpenOffice. Some layout programs I know: - PageMaker
- QuarkXpress
- InDesign
- Scribus
Years ago, I used PageMaker and QuarkXpress. Then I moved to Scribus and I am happy with it (also the licence is very nice). If you never worked with a DTP program, but you have some experience with computers, for the first project you will spend more time as usual, but then you will be happy. The question is not Word or not Word, but using a word processor or a layout program for the layout.
www.scribus.net
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Post by benziger on Jan 1, 2020 23:05:20 GMT
If you have never worked with a layout program before: Think of it as a bookcase. And then the books just come in sequence. At the end of the shelf, the books continue on the next shelf. Even the cleaning lady can put that right! When designing the book, you create page templates (e.g. right/left). Text and images are visible, but are not saved in the document. They are only linked - just like the bell button with the bell. If everything is really nice, you can create the PDF. The program searches everything together and "prints" it into a PDF in the way you intended. The document you are working on remains pleasantly small. PS. WordPerfect is still available. See here: www.wordperfect.com
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 2, 2020 0:15:34 GMT
I've never used a layout program, just what I've got. I've actually used Word 97 to do the formatting for my hard copy versions with little difficulty after I did some research. I use Libre Writer for epub formatting.
Some of the tips applicable for Word 97 carry through till about the Word version of 2010 or so, I think.
I can pull up the external drive and post some of what I've learned if it's of interest.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Jan 2, 2020 2:55:41 GMT
Oh, I still have WordPerfect but don't use it anymore. Where I spend my daylight hours became MSWord exclusive many years ago so I was forced into adapting. I hated it.
Also, the Lulu System is friendly to DOCX files and some folks have difficulty getting their files convrerted to PDF elsewhere.
- Just remembering the difficulties I had as a first-time Lulu user five years ago...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2020 2:56:36 GMT
I like formatting in Word, and it's universal. Many use it and I think a section would be helpful.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 2, 2020 15:19:19 GMT
Why not just label the section Formatting and different threads can address Word variants, Word Perfect, or the Libre Office Writer issues?
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Post by benziger on Jan 2, 2020 19:13:24 GMT
Where I spend my daylight hours became MSWord exclusive many years ago so I was forced into adapting. I hated it. Don't ask me what I should use at work. (I have a portal version of LibreOffice Writer in the Documents folder, but do not tell it to my employer ) Also, the Lulu System is friendly to DOCX files and some folks have difficulty getting their files convrerted to PDF elsewhere. This is not to tell you to change the DTP- or Word-Processing-Program you use, but in my experience, converting into PDF with LibreOffice Writer or Scribus are easyier as with Word.
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Post by benziger on Jan 2, 2020 19:24:49 GMT
I didn't realise it, but it's allready here: Printed books
Peer-to-peer support for all things paper: interior formatting, binding types, cover design, revising, publishing, distribution, etc. on lulu.com. e-booksPeer-to-peer support for all things digital: manuscript conversion, formatting, revising, image requirements, publishing, distribution, etc. on lulu.com. It's only an other approach. Instead of a tool focus "I need help while working with program X...", it's a problem focus "I want to (print a book/create an PDF/...), how should I.... (I am doing it with X)".
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 2, 2020 19:41:17 GMT
Ah, I've found online PDF converters that work quite well with Word 97, since I can't get my old copy of Acrobat Distiller to work on Ubuntu 16.04 or 18.04. I do have an old box with XP Pro on it that I can use since Distiller works on it, just waiting on making the space after the kids quit using spare computers as something to sit on.
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Post by benziger on Jan 2, 2020 19:50:29 GMT
Ah, I've found online PDF converters that work quite well with Word 97, since I can't get my old copy of Acrobat Distiller to work on Ubuntu 16.04 or 18.04. I do have an old box with XP Pro on it that I can use since Distiller works on it, just waiting on making the space after the kids quit using spare computers as something to sit on. Oh Spinx-Cameron, you use the same operating system as I do (if Ubuntu and Lubuntu are the same). I bought a new laptop a few years ago and it already had Windows 8 for touch screen on it. The rest of the software was great, but nastily only as a 6 month trial version. But since the laptop didn't have a touch screen, I was almost taken aback. So I tried to install Lubuntu in parallel with it - with the result that since then Lubuntu just runs and runs and runs (and cames with full versions), but Windows can't be started anymore.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Jan 2, 2020 20:02:41 GMT
Similar variants of Linux. I have this box as a dual boot 16.04 and 18.04 since I have no desire to reload what I need to write on the 18.04 side.
I won't use a Winders OS past XP because MS started bugging its code worse after XP. I tried When 7 which came on this box, then wiped it.
Since MS is basically headed for a rental OS as well as rental office software I'll stick with the schtuff I already have. I can always clone a hard drive and switch it to another box.
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Post by brian37 on Jun 15, 2020 11:43:25 GMT
It might be nice to include a MS Word Formatting Help forum in the Support Section. Word can be a beast to get Styles and Page Numbering and Headers and Footer and such working, and it seems that Word is pretty much the default processor people are using. Ah, how I miss WordPerfect...
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Post by brian37 on Jun 15, 2020 11:47:48 GMT
After umpteen unsuccessful attempts to load my WORD PDF to Lulu for publishing (I have no trouble loading it to Lulu Xpress), I would just like someone to take a look at my file and tell me where I am going wrong! Any ideas?
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Post by benziger on Jun 15, 2020 13:35:48 GMT
There is in fact no "formatting" section, but two: one for printed books and one for e-books. The problem you described is probabely not a problem of formatting with your text processor (that means not a MS Word problem), put a problem of creating a PDF file (means Word does not export properly). I would suggest you to test the following steps: - get a free copy of Libreoffice www.libreoffice.org/download/download/ (available for Windows, MacOS and Linux)
- open your Word document with Libreoffice
- export it as it is as File->Export->Export as PDF
- try this *draft* PDF
If it works Background: I had never issues with PDF exported from LibreOffice and Scribus; a lot of users here had never issues with PDF exported with LibreOffice or OpenOffice.
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