Automatic Master Page for sections

[MikeTO]

Please consider adding an "Automatic Master Page" option to Section Manager, a popup list that would default to None and allow you to choose a master to apply automatically to all of the pages in a section.

If you could create sections with an automatic master, you could use sections for chapters that require chapter-specific objects. i.e., tabs. Currently, there's no way to use the Section Manager with a book that requires tabs. You have to create the tabs on chapter-specific masters which you apply manually.

I'm speaking of books and chapters, not Affinity Books and Chapters.

Thanks

[walt.farrell]

5 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

chapters that require chapter-specific objects. i.e., tabs.

Not sure what you mean by "tabs" in this context, Mike.

Also: In my experience, it's fairly common for the first page of a chapter to be formatted differently from the remaining pages, meaning that it would often need a different Master Page than the other pages. It might be nice to allow that, too. Something like a Master Page (or pages) for the first page of the Section and a different Master Page (or set for the subsequent pages.

[MikeTO]

2 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

Not sure what you mean by "tabs" in this context, Mike.

Also: In my experience, it's fairly common for the first page of a chapter to be formatted differently from the remaining pages, meaning that it would often need a different Master Page than the other pages. It might be nice to allow that, too. Something like a Master Page (or pages) for the first page of the Section and a different Master Page (or set for the subsequent pages.

By tabs I mean a shape that bleeds off the page for the chapter name or number. Typically those are in a different vertical position for each chapter so they have to be placed on a master page.

I'd be hesitant to add another option to specify the master for a section's first page because it would be difficult to address every book's needs. A section might start with one page with a unique master or maybe two pages. In my book each chapter starts four unique pages before the first normal page due to the inclusion of maps.

If you're using tabs you're almost certainly using multiple masters per page because otherwise you'd need chapter-specific variations of each master layout. I suggest an automatic master page to address the need for section-specific layers while masters you applied manually would address the normal layout.

[walt.farrell]

45 minutes ago, MikeTO said:

By tabs I mean a shape that bleeds off the page for the chapter name or number. Typically those are in a different vertical position for each chapter so they have to be placed on a master page.

Sorry. Still don't quite understand what they are. Nor why they'd require a Master. If they are in a different position for each chapter I would think that would mean you wouldn't use a Master, but something unique for each one.

[MikeTO]

31 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

Sorry. Still don't quite understand what they are. Nor why they'd require a Master. If they are in a different position for each chapter I would think that would mean you wouldn't use a Master, but something unique for each one.

All the right pages in chapter 1 would have a tab as shown below, chapter 2 would have a tab below that, etc. You have to put the tabs on a master to have them appear automatically on every page. But because they're in a position specific to each chapter, you need a separate master for each chapter. That's okay and is expected.

But if you have a document like this there's no point using the section manager to manage your sections/chapters. You could, but since you have to apply the chapter masters manually to pages, you might as well put the chapter name in the tab and footer on the master. If section manager could apply a section-specific master then it would be useful for this type of book.