Bug 158501 - Assign page style to automatically inserted blank pages
Summary: Assign page style to automatically inserted blank pages
Status: UNCONFIRMED
Alias: None
Product: LibreOffice
Classification: Unclassified
Component: Writer (show other bugs)
Version:
(earliest affected)
unspecified
Hardware: All All
: medium enhancement
Assignee: Not Assigned
URL:
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Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2023-12-03 14:08 UTC by David Burleigh
Modified: 2023-12-04 14:17 UTC (History)
2 users (show)

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Description David Burleigh 2023-12-03 14:08:56 UTC
Description:
When the page-style attribute "Page layout" is set to "Only right" or "Only left" requiring a blank page to be automatically inserted, allow a page style to be assigned to that blank page so that the user can define page contents, such as a page number in the header or footer.

Actual Results:
Does not apply, since the feature it not yet implemented.

Expected Results:
Does not apply, since the feature it not yet implemented.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No

Additional Info:
Does not apply, since the feature it not yet implemented.
Comment 1 ajlittoz 2023-12-03 14:30:56 UTC
This request occurs in the context of document/book homogeneity when header or footer need to be the same on all pages.

The simplest implementation method is to assign the page style which would have been assigned would the inserted page be a real one.

For instance, when we have alternation Right Page, Left Page, Right Page, …, Left Page would be assigned to the blank page before any real page starting a new chapter forced to right.

Similarly if the terminated chapter is under a "simple" page style like Default Page Style, Default Page Style is assigned.

Short story, the "Next" property of the last real-page page-style is retrieved to assign a style to the blank page.

Header and footer are taken from the configuration of this style and the inserted page looks like the others without doing anything special.

There is however a shortcoming. Some legal or important documents need a mention about blank pages like "page intentionally left blank" either as text or watermark. I don't know how this requirement can be implemented.

But, as always, some users may desire the behaviour described here, others would prefer a full blank page without header nor footer. Consequently, an enable control is needed to satisfy everybody.
Comment 2 David Burleigh 2023-12-03 14:38:46 UTC
Yes, or alternatively, in the context of a Master Document, it would be nice to be able to include an image on such auto-inserted blank pages. I do that manually in some of my books. It sends the same message as "This page intentionally left blank" but in a decorative way.
Comment 3 Regina Henschel 2023-12-03 16:57:19 UTC
Bug 55651 has the request to continue with the style of the previous page. But that will not work in case of "only left" and "only right".

Having a dedicated style for automatically inserted pages is a nice idea. But it needs an indication, that it is no regular page style.
Comment 4 ajlittoz 2023-12-03 17:03:37 UTC
(In reply to David Burleigh from comment #2)
> Yes, or alternatively, in the context of a Master Document
It doesn't occur only in Master document context. It should be a "universal" possibility

> to be able to include an image on such auto-inserted blank pages
If there is possibility to include some "text", i.e. a "standard" text flow, then an image is nothing more than a frame. We should benefit of the full Writer power to insert anything there.

A watermark is slightly different as, if I remember right, is a text box and it is anchored in the header. This would not apply here because modifying the header would also change the look all pages using the page style. Consequently, insertions must be based on some text put aside for this specific use.

A new tab in page style configuration for "Blank page"? But then some UI must be offered to enter a full style-able text or, if easier in early development, to designate an .odt document to be used for this purpose (similar to sub-documents for master). But some constraints must be enforced to limit the size of inserted data to available area (between lateral margin, header and footer).

Please, developers, don't use "not in OASIS or ODF" argument to dismiss the request!
Comment 5 ajlittoz 2023-12-03 17:15:58 UTC
(In reply to Regina Henschel from comment #3)
> Bug 55651 has the request to continue with the style of the previous page.
> But that will not work in case of "only left" and "only right".
This why I suggest to use the Next style.

> Having a dedicated style for automatically inserted pages is a nice idea.
> But it needs an indication, that it is no regular page style.
By "dedicated style" do you mean a single "document-wide" page style for that? But "auto pages" need to be different after front cover, TOC or running chapter.

If your idea is to designate some style in the Organizer tab, as suggested in a comment in bug 55651, OK.

However I see a difficulty. "Auto-pages" are special and you can't edit them (at least presently). How can we customise such "auto-pages" once inserted? Assigning them a page style is only half of the story. Header, footer and text need some user entry. In my present state of thinking, such entry is common to all such pages, the same as a header is shared by all instances of pages under the same style.

The process should remain as automatic as possible. If every "auto-page" must be manually customised, we fall back to some form of direct formatting (similar IMHO to vertical spacing with empty paragraphs). That is, once the special page style is configured for its usual "geometric" properties, contents of header, footer and text should also be part of this configuration so that "auto-pages" are added the same as present blank pages and typist doesn't care for them in any way.
Comment 6 David Burleigh 2023-12-03 17:42:04 UTC
From my point of view, a single page style for automatic blank pages that allows user editing of headers and footers would be a tremendous improvement, regardless of whether any other ability to define page content exists.
Comment 7 Chris Tapp 2023-12-04 09:51:29 UTC
From an editors point of view, one page style may not be enough - for example, it is common for front matter and content pages to use different numbering styles.
Comment 8 ajlittoz 2023-12-04 14:17:07 UTC
Another context in which "auto-pages" are inserted: some frame anchored *To page* after the last effective page of the document. This happens when a frame is erroneously anchored *To page* and further edits remove pages at the end. The frame remains anchored at the original page.

If this is intentional (who knows?), then the correct sequence of "auto-page" styles must be honoured, starting from last "effective" page and using the Next page style.