Created attachment 199836 [details] Screenshot of Page Margins/Boundaries in LibreOffice Writer LibreOffice Draw needs the ability show Page Margins (boundaries). In Writer, I can select: View / Boundaries (see screenshot). Please add the ability to LibreOffice Draw to show Page Margins (boundaries).
I can confirm that there is no way to make margins visible. Witn me: Version: 25.2.1.2 (X86_64) / LibreOffice Community Build ID: d3abf4aee5fd705e4a92bba33a32f40bc4e56f49 CPU threads: 8; OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (10.0 build 19045); UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: de-DE Calc: CL threaded
Sorry, but there is no explanation *why* does Draw need that. The fact that this is not possible is not a reason to confirm: there should be some scenario that makes it wanted, and that can't use e.g. guidelines already present in the application. Draw is not Writer (in which margins limit the main text flow), and in Draw, the usefulness of the requested feature is not clear.
But you can show them already, from the 'Page Properties...' dialog. And from the 'Background' tab temporarily assign a background color. But be sure on the Page tab that the 'Background covers margins' is in its unchecked by-default state. Remove the background area fill if undesired prior to publishing. sd draw Object alignment (Left, Center, Right, Top, Middle, Bottom) of *individually* selected sd draw objects are positioned to those margins. While as reasonable *multi-selection* of draw objects align to extents of the selection. And must then be grouped to be aligned by margin.
(In reply to Mike Kaganski from comment #2) > Sorry, but there is no explanation *why* does Draw need that. Because I want to make sure I am placing my objects within the visual boundaries that I have defined. Clean layout relative to the page. I also often use the page margins to approximate the printing margins. I want to see that my objects are within the printable space.
(In reply to V Stuart Foote from comment #3) > But you can show them already, from the 'Page Properties...' dialog. And > from the 'Background' tab temporarily assign a background color. That is a poor workaround. Also, see comment#4 for why seeing the margins can be useful and is needed. > But be sure on the Page tab that the 'Background covers margins' is in its > unchecked by-default state. OT: Interestingly, if you check the "Background covers margins", there is a white border that shows the margins.
(In reply to Peter Lairo from comment #4) > Because I want to make sure I am placing my objects within the visual > boundaries that I have defined. Clean layout relative to the page. > > I also often use the page margins to approximate the printing margins. I > want to see that my objects are within the printable space. Both don't require visible margins at all; creating a visible but non-printable layer, and placing arbitrary guidelines there, is the proper way in Draw to do these and other things. The alignment and coordinate reasons are the only important things here.
There are some pro and contra margins arguments in the following Ask LibreOffice question that might provide some insight without cluttering this bug: Title: How to show Page Margins in LibreOffice Draw? https://ask.libreoffice.org/t/how-to-show-page-margins-in-libreoffice-draw/119579 The PRO margins/show margins reasons are more compelling. They don't require redefining “Position” of objects (F4), "Align Objects", etc. (all are relative to the margins). Visible Margins also don't require regular users to use advanced (positioning Guidelines) and unintuitive workarounds (unwanted background colors or using rectangles) for something many find useful. If you don't like subtly visible indicators for the margins, just leave it at the default: not visible.
(In reply to Peter Lairo from comment #7) > There are some pro and contra margins arguments in the following Ask > LibreOffice question that might provide some insight without cluttering this > bug: > > Title: How to show Page Margins in LibreOffice Draw? > Already linked above from the URL field. As to margins being visible or not. In practice, when using Draw for layout and design work, while setting a canvas size I normally will set the Margin to 'None' or 0.0, from Sidebar properties deck or the Page Properties... dialog. Placement and alignment is then to canvas edge without regard to final published or printed size. I find that most useful with graphics/images that are going to OLE or inserted into another ODF document. The margin serves little purpose other than alignment, and can be visualized as noted with use of a background area fill. None the less, the ability to include the display of margins *as outline* on sd Draw canvas by toggle of a View -> Borders button widget similar to Writer lend consistency to UI. Not clear it would be needed for sd Impress where the slides by default receive a margin of 0.00.