Line spacing in Pages

Question

Level 3

595 points

Line spacing in Pages

I have major problems with line spacing in Pages 5.6.1. The default setting is '1' presumably suggesting Single Spacing but it is very much wider than would usually be meant by that term. For example if I type an addressee's Address top left, using a sensible Font size the whole address comes out much too deep to fit in a standard A4 envelope window. I have to select it manually, set Style - Line Spacing to say 4pt. I have to do this every time I write a letter (and I write a lot of letters). This was never a problem in AppleWorks!

IF someone knows how to get round this I'd be grateful to know. Thanks.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.2), 21.5" 500GB 4GB Ram & OS 10.6

Posted on Dec 29, 2015 7:45 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 29, 2015 12:02 PM in response to Bernard Stay

Linespacing of 1 is dependent on the font size.

You need to set the spacing "Exactly" and also check if there is Before or After paragraph spacing that is pushing the lines apart.

Peter

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,458 points

Dec 29, 2015 10:30 AM in response to Bernard Stay

Bernard,

Consider a custom A4 template with Placeholder text appropriately applied — once you get the line and (optionally) character spacing set to taste.

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Answer 3

Bernard Stay Author

Level 3

595 points

Dec 29, 2015 12:16 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks. I've no idea what Placeholder is. Enlighten please.

Additionally: is there any way of a) renaming Templates b) deleting Templates? I've now got so many attempts at a Letter template I can't remember which if any is the correct one. Also 90% of the other Templates are of of no conceivable use.

And in reply to Peter Breis: Using 'Exactly works if I set it to 14pt. for example and forget Single Spacing 1 or whatever. How though do I set the Style. Font, Font Size, Line Spacing and all for the whole document such that when I open a New doc with my personal Letter Template say, everything will come out with identical font, font size, spacing etc. without having to go back and alter this and that? Thanks.

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Answer 4

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,458 points

Dec 29, 2015 1:36 PM in response to Bernard Stay

When you are in the Template chooser, you can rename or delete your custom templates with a right-click on the template. A menu comprised of delete and rename items will appear.

Placeholder text is a feature that you use in a template that retains selected text attributes, but allows you to replace the content with what you type. The templates that Apple supplies also use Placeholder text, primarily as a vehicle for that Latin Lorem Ipsum filler. You create Placeholder text by selecting the text, and then apply Format menu : Advanced : Define as Placeholder text.

Before Placeholder text After Placeholder text

The Placeholder text effect is documented in Pages Help : Edit text : Add and edit text : Add text. Nice color example there.

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Answer 5

Dec 29, 2015 4:05 PM in response to Bernard Stay

Bernard

Click in your text > command a (Select All) > change to what you want

Read up in the Help about Paragraph Styles, Placeholders and saving as Templates for future use.

As Viking says you can command click or right click on the Templates in the Template Chooser to change their name or delete templates you don't want.

Don't delete Apples though.

Peter

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Answer 6

Bernard Stay Author

Level 3

595 points

Dec 30, 2015 2:49 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

Most grateful Peter and the Viking. That all worked well and I now have a usable Letter Template. One niggle though: It includes a line showing the current date. This I formatted as '29 December 2015’ . However when I open a New letter and replace the date shown by inserting the current date it reverts to the 'Wednesday, 29 December'' format and I then have to re-style to delete the Day. Any way to get the chosen date format to stick?

Thanks again.

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Answer 7

Dec 30, 2015 4:33 AM in response to Bernard Stay

How did you change the date?

The standard way to change formatting is to double click on the Date after insertion, then chose a format from the selection offered.

That format will still be active after saving and reopening the file.

Peter

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Answer 8

Bernard Stay Author

Level 3

595 points

Dec 30, 2015 7:33 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

Peter

Thank you again. Sorry to keep on with the niggles - it's all because I can't access AppleWorks any longer.

Yes what you say is badically true (one click though). However it still reverts if I insert a new date next time I want to write a letter. However the trick is to click on the old date and select Set to Today. This however only works if the Date is not a Placehold.

I think I'm there now, a relief, since I've now managed to trasnlate all my AW letters, poems etc into Pages docs, also one speadsheet, and made another comprhensive calculating Spreadsheet - for which I congratullate myself as I'm well over 80!

I do wonder though whether I'd be better with Microsoft Office. Horrid thought, but what do you think?

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Answer 9

Dec 30, 2015 7:54 AM in response to Bernard Stay

Not the previous Office but you might have a look at the current one.

There are improvements. I haven't had a long enough look to say for sure.

I'm sticking with Pages '09 for now.

Peter

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