Page view, margins, headers and footers
Switch between a flowing column and real pages, then set paper size, orientation and margins, use the ruler, and add headers, footers and page numbers.
PlexiiDocs shows a document in one of two ways. Continuous is a single flowing column, good for drafting. Page lays the text out on real sheets of paper, with margins, page breaks, a header and a footer, so you can see how it will look printed or exported.
Before you start
- Plans. Page setup is on every plan.
- Where the settings live. Paper size, orientation, margins, header and footer are saved with the document, so everyone who opens it, and every export, sees the same pages. Whether you look at it in Continuous or Page is your own preference, remembered on this computer.
Switch between Continuous and Page
In the bar above the page, click Continuous or Page. Or choose View > Page view or Continuous view.
In page view each page is white, like paper, whatever theme PlexiDesk uses. The gap between two sheets shows the next page's number, such as Page 2.
A new document starts on Letter paper, Portrait, with 1-inch margins.
Set the page
When Page is on, the bar above the page shows the page settings:
| Setting | What to do |
|---|---|
| Portrait / Landscape | Click to switch the orientation. |
| Letter / A4 | Click to switch the paper size. |
| Margins | Choose a preset, or set your own (see below). |
| Ruler | Shows or hides the ruler. |
| Header/Footer | Adds a header and a footer (see below). |
You can also set the orientation from the command palette: press ⌘ K on a Mac (Ctrl K on Windows) and choose Page orientation: portrait or Page orientation: landscape. This also turns page view on.
Set the margins
Choose a preset
- Click Margins.
- Choose Normal (1"), Narrow (0.5"), Moderate (1" / 0.75") or Wide (1" / 2"). The current one is highlighted.
Moderate and Wide set the top and bottom to 1 inch, and the left and right to 0.75 or 2 inches.
Set your own
- Click Margins.
- Under Custom (inches), type the Top, Right, Bottom and Left margins. Each can be from 0 to 4 inches.
The page changes as you type.
Drag them on the ruler
The ruler is on when you first use page view. A ruler runs along the top of the page and down its left side, marked in inches, with the margins shaded.
- Drag one of the small triangles on the ruler: left and right along the top, top and bottom down the side.
- The text reflows as you drag. Let go to set the margin.
Margins snap to sixteenths of an inch, and always leave at least an inch for the text. Click Ruler to hide or show it.
Add a header, footer and page numbers
- Click Header/Footer.
- Under Header, type text in Header text. Tick Show page number to number each page in the header.
- Under Footer, do the same with Footer text and Show page number.
- Click anywhere else to close the box.
The header and footer repeat in the top and bottom margins of every page. The text is centred, and the page number, Page 1, Page 2 and so on, sits at the right.
How content fits on pages
- A block that would run past the bottom of a page, such as a paragraph or a picture, moves whole to the next page.
- A picture taller than a page is scaled to fit.
- A long table can repeat its header row at the top of each page: right-click the table and tick Repeat header row on every page. See Tables, images and links.
Common questions
Why is the page white when I use a dark theme? Page view shows the document as it will print, on white paper. Switch to Continuous to write in your theme's colours.
I chose Focus and my pages disappeared. Focus mode always uses the continuous layout. Leave focus mode and your pages come back. See Focus mode, outline and word count.
I imported a Word file and the margins changed. Importing a Word file brings its paper size, orientation, margins, header and footer into the document. Change them back in the bar above the page. See Word, PDF and web export in PlexiiDocs.
Related tasks
Was this helpful?
Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].