Trouble learning book template creation in Word 97

[James Bowie]

Hello,

I've found some good manuscript templates for books, but I'm also looking
for templates, tutorials or good books on creating book templates in Word 97.

Essentially I have all the details I need for typesetting the book, since I
will be self-publishing and creating a PDF out of the document, but I just
can't get past issues like Word wanting to apply a style to the whole
document, and page numbering being off, that sort of thing.

I need some pages with no margins at all since text will be centered (the
title page, copyright page, dedication) then I need mirrored margins for open
right-left issues. I can't get Word to start page numbering at 1 on the first
page at chapter one, no matter what I do. I've tried "start at" with the
cursor in the footer on the first page of chapter one, but it still counts
the title page and all the rest. I also have trouble with 1-x. It gets it
correct there when I use the multi-list level feature for chapter one, but
then it inserts "Chapter 1 Chapter One" or all sorts of crazy things. I just
want Chapter One... Chapter Two... and so on.

I also need my own custom headings. I can't use Word's default heading
styles, title style and that sort of thing. I want the same font for the body
and page numbering, a different font for the title page and announcement of
new chapters, and different line spacing for different pages. Line spacing is
1 for copyight, dedication, acknowledgements, preface and such, but 1.5
spacing for the book's chapters. Also I need to have a specific indent for
beginning each paragraph. I am sure I can figure out that one for myself, but
I hope it doesn't go and apply it to the entire document.

Can anyone help please, or suggest a book that will teach me how to create
templates exactly the way I want them?

With thanks,
James

 

[grammatim]

Did they have "Sections" way back in 97? If so, that's the topic that
will take care of just about everything you mention.

(BTW centered paragraphs don't have "no margins"; if the lines get too
long, they still have to break onto a second line, and the margins
determine what's "too long.")

For some of the things you mention, study "Styles."

But is there any possibility of upgrading to Word2003 -- or even
Word2007? (97 may be so different from 2003 anyway that the huge
differences between 2003 and 2007 might not be any worse than moving
from 97 to 2003.)

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See http://daiya.mvps.org/bookword.htm

 

[James Bowie]

Hi,

Sorry, I wrote this at about 3am and got my ninety-sevens mixed up with my
zero-sevens.

I have Word 2007. The one with the odd-looking UI that's way different to
Word XP edition. Personally I find it annoying, but I'm getting used to it
after using it for a few days. Maybe I'll just have to learn to like it.

 

[James Bowie]

Hi,

Sorry, I meant Word 2007. Have no idea about 97. Didn't even know there was
one. I've only used Word XP for a while. I come from the Linux world with
OpenOffice.

Thanks for the tip on margins. That could have tripped me up!

 

[James Bowie]

Great stuff, thanks a million!