PageMaker: Creating Complex Document Layouts

Software Used: Adobe PageMaker 6.5 for MacOS & Windows95

PageMaker is a desktop publishing program. It is used to create documents with a complex layout of text and graphics, such as newsletters, magazines, fliers, etc. It is somewhat like a graphics program; therefore it is much easier to organize the page rather than using a word processing program (especially when including graphic images in the document).

In Windows95, click on Start à Programs à Adobe à PageMaker 6.5 à Adobe PageMaker 6.5

In MacOS, double click on Mac_HD à Desktop Pub/Presentation à PageMaker 6.5 à Adobe

PageMaker 6.5

To create a new document, click on "File" (in the toolbar on top) then "New…" The Document Setup window should then appear (which looks like the figure on the left). Make any changes necessary. You may change the page size, orientation, number of pages, and/or margins. Click on "Numbers…" to edit Page Numbering scheme. If you do not know what the last two options do, then leave them at the default settings. When done, click OK. Afterwards, you may return to this window by clicking on File -> Document Setup.

To setup columns, click on Layout (in the toolbar on top) -> Column Guides… Enter in the number of columns you’d like and the space between each column. Selecting the "Adjust Layout" option will automatically change any page layout information if needed. Click OK when done. If you’d like to change the width of one of the columns, move the mouse over the guides, hold down on the mouse button, and drag the guide to the desired width.

To change the viewing size of your page, click on View (at the toolbar on top) -> then select either "Zoom In", "Zoom Out", or view the "Actual Size", or "Fit (the page) in Window".

To add (non-printing) guide rules that assist in aligning text or graphics, click and drag off the rulers. For horizontal guides, move the mouse up to the horizontal ruler at the top, hold down the mouse button, and drag it over the page. Release the button to place the guide. For vertical guides, do the same, except use the vertical ruler on the left instead of the horizontal ruler.

To import a graphic, text, or other type of file, click on File -> Place… Select the file you wish to import, then click "Open," or use the copy and paste commands. The mouse icon should then look different, click on the page where you wish to place the file.

A – Use the pointer tool to select (place mouse over and click), move (place mouse over, hold down mouse button, and drag), and resize text objects and graphics (select, place mouse over corner, hold down mouse button, and drag). B – Use the rotating tool to select and rotate objects. Place mouse over item, click and release, hold down mouse button, and drag. C – Use the line tool to draw straight lines in any direction. Hold down mouse button and drag. D – Use the rectangle tool to draw squares and rectangles. Hold down mouse button and drag.

E – Use the ellipse tool to draw ellipses and circles. Hold down mouse button and drag. F – Use the polygon tool to draw polygons. Hold down mouse button and drag. G – Use the hand tool to scroll the page, or to preview and test hyperlinks. Hold down mouse button and drag to scroll. To test hyperlinks, move mouse over link and click H – Use the text tool to type, select, and edit text. Hold down mouse button and drag to create text box, you may then begin to type. To edit text, move mouse over text box and click. I – Use the cropping tool to trim imported graphics. Highlight the graphic you wish to crop. Place the mouse on one of the little squares surrounding the graphic and drag to crop.

J – Use the constrained line tool to draw vertical or horizontal lines. Hold down mouse button and drag

K – Use the rectangle frame tool to create a rectangular place holder for text and graphics. Hold down mouse button and drag. L – Use the ellipse frame tool to create a circular or oval placeholder for text and graphics. Hold down mouse button and drag. M – Use the polygon frame tool to create a polygon placeholder for text and graphics. Hold down mouse button and drag. N – Use the zoom tool to magnify or reduce an area of the page. Click to zoom.

To change between pages, just click on the icon for the page you wish to move to at the bottom left corner of the screen.

PageMaker is a complex program with many capabilities. For further information and/or help, click on Help (at the toolbar on top) -> Help Topics… You may also check the manual located in the computer labs.