Does Apple Pages allow for a full-width footer on a multi-page document that has margins for the text?

Question

Level 1

32 points

Does Apple Pages allow for a full-width footer on a multi-page document that has margins for the text?

I am trying to create a letterhead template that has a full-width footer but ran into an issue I can't seem to find an answer for. I'm hoping someone here can help.

I am using Pages Word Processing layout to allow for multiple pages. I have my document margins set to .85" on left and right however, when I try to add the grouped footer elements (an 8.5" wide color bar with a 4 pt line on top) into the footer field, it doesn't expand to match the full-width of my graphics. It seems the footer is forced into using the same margins as the document because, while I do see an option to set the margin spacing from the bottom, I don't see any way to change the margins on the left and right.

Does Pages really not provide an option for setting individual margins for text and graphic elements? Am I forced to have the footer only as wide as the document's text margins? If so, is there a way to use a text box (to avoid using Document Margins) and still have it automatically flow to the next page, if someone is typing out a multi-page letter?

I'm using Pages version 14.1 on MacBook with OS Sonoma 14.4.1

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.4

Posted on Aug 1, 2024 12:56 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 1, 2024 2:18 PM in response to misalodesign

Take your selected footer replacement and then Arrange menu > Section Layouts > Move Objects to Section Layout. Now, that faux footer will repeat with every new page in that section. In a new section, you will want to access the Documents panel > Sections panel > ☑︎ Match previous section to inherit the previous section's footer treatment.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 1, 2024 1:26 PM in response to misalodesign

Pages headers and footers are constrained by the document margins. Unless, you disable the footer in the Documents panel and replace the footer location with a full-width text box, shape or grouped both. That may have export consequences for Word though.

Reply

Answer 3

misalodesign Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 1, 2024 1:46 PM in response to misalodesign

That is what I ended up doing, but that means the footer won’t automatically populate when the user’s text flows to a new page.

I wish Apple would add the option to control the margins for the text and graphic elements individually.

Reply

Answer 4

misalodesign Author

Level 1

32 points

Aug 2, 2024 1:04 PM in response to VikingOSX

That worked, thank you! Follow up question for you: is it possible to have the page margins different on page 2 forward? Since only the first page has the header graphics, the text starts lower on the page, which looks odd on the pages without the header graphic taking up that extra space.

Reply

Answer 5

Aug 2, 2024 1:53 PM in response to misalodesign

Pages uses identical page margins throughout the document, so you cannot customize the margins on the second page. An alternative is that the first page is its own section with that replacement footer set as a section layout graphic. Subsequent pages are in their own section(s) with the Documents > Section Match previous section unchecked to avoid pulling the first-page footer treatment.

Reply