Changing multiple identical text boxes at the same time in Publish

[Sue]

I am new to Publisher and am struggling badly with formatting. I am
attempting to format a small book. I have played around and got to the point
where I can now get the text into connected text boxes that are all
automatically the same size as I add text.

However, my concern is that whenever I do anything in Word I always land up
tweaking the layout at the last moment prior to the final print, for example
when I make the final decision on binding method and discover I really need
to make the left margin a few mm wider or narrower. This is really easy in
Word. I cannot find any alternative in Publisher to changing the text box
size on every individual page. What I am looking for is an extension of the
facility to make the new connected text boxes the same size to give a 'change
all the existing ones that were originally the same size to a new size'. I
don't expect it to change all the other embedded objects - just the ones that
started out connected and the same size. I feel I must be missing
something.....but I am just not sure what!

 

[Sue]

Just spotted that this is the only post over the weekend that still has no
replies! I'm not sure if i did not phrase the question well enough, or if
it's just not possible to do what I want. Even if it's not possible, would
really appreciate a response just to let me know where I stand.

 

[Mary Sauer]

Sue, The reason for no answers is there is no answer. As you have discovered, Word is
more adapt at creating long documents.
The only way to adjust your text boxes is manually. If you have created the text in
Word, you can setup the text boxes in Publisher, create a text box on the first page,
adjust it to the size you want, copy and paste the text box into the ensuing pages,
linking each text box. Paste the text from Word.

 

[Sue]

Thanks, Mary

At least I know for sure! I'll keep it in Word until the last possible
moment and try to make sure that I get the layout spot on before copying too
much text into Publisher.

 

[drc023]

Actually there is a way to adjust the margins as you describe and it's very
easy. Click on the text frame, highlight all the text (Ctrl-A), and move the
margin sliders that appear on the ruler bar. The top arrow establishes the
left margin, the right arrow the right margin and the bottom arrow controls
each line after the first in a paragraph. If the text frames are linked all
will be updated at once.

If you would like a copy, I've created a nice little help booklet for all
keyboard shortcuts and special formatting characters. Send me a private
email for the copy. Note: This is based upon Pub 2002 and there will be some
differences between some shortcuts and formatting commands from other
versions.

 

[Ed Bennett]

The top arrow establishes the left margin, the right arrow the right
margin

Actually, Ron, those are the indents, not the margins.
Margins are set on a text-box-level basis, indents on a paragraph-level
basis.

You can set the margins for all text boxes in a publication using a macro -
it would be fairly easy to write if you had experience with VBA or VB.

 

[drc023]

True, but it will easily accomplish what the OP asked for. If the text
frames are linked, using this will adjust all selected text. You can still
go back and individually adjust parts of the text if necessary. Using the
ruler to do this isn't a whole lot different than using it to set tabs
instead of using a menu. It's a little trick I've used for years.

 

[Ed Bennett]

True, but it will easily accomplish what the OP asked for. If the text
frames are linked, using this will adjust all selected text. You can
still go back and individually adjust parts of the text if necessary.
Using the ruler to do this isn't a whole lot different than using it
to set tabs instead of using a menu. It's a little trick I've used
for years.

Apart from that if the user has a lot of indents set, then they will be
destroyed.

Setting tabs on the ruler sets tabs, as does setting them using the menu.
This sets indents, using the Format Text Box dialog sets margins.

 

[drc023]

Once again, what you are saying is true, but only so if there are multiple
indents with varying lengths. You can set all the indents with the upper
slider at one time. The whole point I'm trying to make is that if a user
understands the workings of Publisher, then they have options to help
resolve what could be a time consuming issue to correct. I believe the OP
had all the text frames linked and wanted to increase the left margin
without having to reinvent the wheel. She was told it couldn't be done, but
it can easily be handled with this method. Which is more important? Getting
the job done so it can be printed or spending time doing it over? This is
one of my main concerns about Publisher - while Publisher is a very feature
rich tool, those tools are often never utilized because of the dependence
upon only a single way of looking at a problem. Don't even get me started on
wizards, templates and printing single labels or envelopes. My blood
pressure won't take it.

 

[Ed Bennett]

This is one of my main
concerns about Publisher - while Publisher is a very feature rich
tool, those tools are often never utilized because of the dependence
upon only a single way of looking at a problem.

I agree in many respects - but I also become frustrated when I see people
using indents instead of margins, character formatting instead of styles,
etc etc.