• Page numbers in Ovation Pro

    From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Monday, June 01, 2026 04:31:32
    I was trying to get automatically numbered pages in Ovation Pro by
    adding them to a footer in the document's master page - but apparently
    every time I create a new chapter in Ovation a new and blank master page
    is created for it, so that retrospective changes to the original master
    page are not reflected throughout the rest of the document... which
    seems to render the concept of a 'master page' a bit pointless. How
    does Ovation usually implement page numbering across documents with more
    than one chapter?

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    The only rose without thorns is friendship.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dave@3:633/10 to All on Monday, June 01, 2026 09:09:56
    In article <d545ece15c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:
    I was trying to get automatically numbered pages in Ovation Pro by
    adding them to a footer in the document's master page - but apparently
    every time I create a new chapter in Ovation a new and blank master page
    is created for it, so that retrospective changes to the original master
    page are not reflected throughout the rest of the document... which
    seems to render the concept of a 'master page' a bit pointless. How
    does Ovation usually implement page numbering across documents with more
    than one chapter?


    When you create the new chapter after say Chapter 1.

    In the Chapter dialogue pane that presents.. "Modify Chapter 2". Leave the "Start number" box empty.

    Dave

    --

    Dave Triffid

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Monday, June 01, 2026 10:02:19
    On 1 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    Dave wrote:

    In article <d545ece15c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:
    I was trying to get automatically numbered pages in Ovation Pro by
    adding them to a footer in the document's master page - but apparently every time I create a new chapter in Ovation a new and blank master page
    is created for it, so that retrospective changes to the original master page are not reflected throughout the rest of the document... which
    seems to render the concept of a 'master page' a bit pointless. How
    does Ovation usually implement page numbering across documents with more than one chapter?


    When you create the new chapter after say Chapter 1.

    In the Chapter dialogue pane that presents.. "Modify Chapter 2". Leave the "Start number" box empty.

    Ah, so when I do a "New chapter->After current chapter" I can *at that
    point* control which 'master page' is used (the "Base on chapter" icon
    is writable) and I *can't* retrospectively modify that using the "Modify chapter" dialogue, which is what I was trying to do (because the "Base
    on chapter" icon is by then greyed out).

    So my problem is that I created all the chapters first and then tried to
    add page numbering to the existing text afterwards, based on my
    experience with Impression master pages. And I can work around it by
    modifying the master page for Chapter and then creating a whole load of
    new blank chapters following on that one and now based on its
    updated master page, and individually cutting and pasting the content of
    the unnumbered chapters into them.

    I'm still not sure how I then cope if I need to modify the original page
    layout subsequently, e.g. adjust the margins of the document, since the
    master pages for each chapter still all seem to be independent of one
    another - I feel I must be missing something basic in the way that
    Ovation operates!

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    The way to a man's heart is through the left ventricle.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dave@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 11:39:13
    In article <b78e0ae25c.admin@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:
    On 1 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    Dave wrote:

    In article <d545ece15c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:
    I was trying to get automatically numbered pages in Ovation Pro by
    adding them to a footer in the document's master page - but
    apparently every time I create a new chapter in Ovation a new and
    blank master page is created for it, so that retrospective changes
    to the original master page are not reflected throughout the rest of
    the document... which seems to render the concept of a 'master page'
    a bit pointless. How does Ovation usually implement page numbering across documents with more than one chapter?


    When you create the new chapter after say Chapter 1.

    In the Chapter dialogue pane that presents.. "Modify Chapter 2". Leave
    the "Start number" box empty.

    Ah, so when I do a "New chapter->After current chapter" I can *at that
    point* control which 'master page' is used (the "Base on chapter" icon
    is writable) and I *can't* retrospectively modify that using the "Modify chapter" dialogue, which is what I was trying to do (because the "Base
    on chapter" icon is by then greyed out).

    So my problem is that I created all the chapters first and then tried to
    add page numbering to the existing text afterwards, based on my
    experience with Impression master pages. And I can work around it by modifying the master page for Chapter and then creating a whole load of
    new blank chapters following on that one and now based on its
    updated master page, and individually cutting and pasting the content of
    the unnumbered chapters into them.

    Harriet,
    Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been a bit busy... And assuming I understand what you want...

    I'm assuming like I do, you've planned out your document and created a set
    of chapters do the work in.

    Blank or filled with content...

    Each Chapter Master page is now editable.

    In the document, scroll to the chapter you want to edit, single click in
    the middle of it, then Do Ctrl-E this will open the Master pages at the
    Master page you've selected.

    Edit whatever you want...
    Close the Master document and what you've edited will now apply to that chapter.


    I'm still not sure how I then cope if I need to modify the original page layout subsequently, e.g. adjust the margins of the document, since the master pages for each chapter still all seem to be independent of one
    another - I feel I must be missing something basic in the way that
    Ovation operates!

    While I understand what you are asking... This bit I don't know, so maybe
    a question to the davidpilling mailing list would help.

    It's not something I've ever needed to do, as any margin adjustment I've
    done are in "The" specific chapters Master page.

    I'd also be interested in the answer to that one so I'll post to the dp
    mailing list.

    Dave

    --

    Dave Triffid

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dave@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 15:59:19
    In article <5ce31b1a07dave@triffid.co.uk>,
    Dave <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:
    [Snippy]

    I'd also be interested in the answer to that one so I'll post to the dp mailing list.

    Hi Harriet,
    I have received a reply from Gavin Crawford on the mailing List, some of
    which I can post here.

    Quote:

    No, once the chapter is created, each master page is separate and
    independent of the others. It's only when you create a new chapter that
    you can specify an existing chapter to copy.

    Or, as it appears, because I don't know the answer to the question, I
    have
    to go into each chapter in turn and make the adjustment?

    Yes, adjusting each one is, I'm afraid, the way you have to do it.

    End Quote.

    Dave

    The remainder of the post from Gavin... In which he posts details of the script...

    "Although I can offer a helpful little script that will make the process
    a bit easier."

    Interesting methinks and maybe I'll try it when I can find some time. :-/

    So if you think it would help, I could send it to you privately.

    Dave

    --

    Dave Triffid

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 00:21:30
    On 3 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    Dave wrote:

    In article <5ce31b1a07dave@triffid.co.uk>,
    Dave <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

    [snip mailing list]

    No, once the chapter is created, each master page is separate and independent of the others. It's only when you create a new chapter that
    you can specify an existing chapter to copy.

    Or, as it appears, because I don't know the answer to the question,
    I have to go into each chapter in turn and make the adjustment?

    Yes, adjusting each one is, I'm afraid, the way you have to do it.

    Thanks - that does seem very strange to me (creating a new and
    unconnected master page every time you start a new chapter so that you
    can't make global changes across the document is like having a separate
    set of styles for each chapter that are based on the initial set but
    don't update), but at least it proves that I'm not missing something in
    the manual!

    So the basic way to change the document formatting is to create a
    completely new document, tweak the opening chapter as required, and
    import all the rest of the chapters based on that one only when you
    think you have got it right. :-(

    The remainder of the post from Gavin... In which he posts details of the script...

    "Although I can offer a helpful little script that will make the process
    a bit easier."

    Interesting methinks and maybe I'll try it when I can find some time. :-/

    So if you think it would help, I could send it to you privately.

    Since it's probably looking as if I shall end up having to export the
    text a second time into EasiWriter in order to produce MS Word output
    (for reasons that I now forget, I had to export all 35 chapters from
    Impression into Ovation in order to do the final printout, and am now attempting to reformat that to produce extracts - I should probably just
    go back to the Impression Publisher original, the main problem there
    being that I have to run Aemulor, which means I have to quit various
    other apps), I'm not sure it's worth it.

    (So far as I can see, the only way to produce a DocX file is to export
    in Word format from EasiWriter and then find a working /doc to /docx
    converter site on the Internet, which I've had to do once or twice....)

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    Those of you who think you know everything are annoying those of us who do.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dave@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 09:40:07
    In article <f2b9e4e35c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    [Snippy]
    Since it's probably looking as if I shall end up having to export the
    text a second time into EasiWriter in order to produce MS Word output
    (for reasons that I now forget, I had to export all 35 chapters from Impression into Ovation in order to do the final printout, and am now attempting to reformat that to produce extracts - I should probably just
    go back to the Impression Publisher original, the main problem there
    being that I have to run Aemulor, which means I have to quit various
    other apps), I'm not sure it's worth it.

    (So far as I can see, the only way to produce a DocX file is to export
    in Word format from EasiWriter and then find a working /doc to /docx converter site on the Internet, which I've had to do once or twice....)

    Ah, the downside of using RISC OS... :-(

    I would imagine you know, but just to check... :-)

    I assume you are aware of being able to drop a Publisher file onto the
    Ovation Pro Icon bar Icon to import it.

    I haven't used Publisher for very long time, but occasionally find an old
    file and want to re-use the contents, being able to just drop it on Ov Pro
    is a great boon.

    Dave

    --

    Dave Triffid

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From John@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, June 04, 2026 11:59:25
    In article <5ce417de7edave@triffid.co.uk>, Dave
    <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

    I assume you are aware of being able to drop a Publisher
    file onto the Ovation Pro Icon bar Icon to import it.

    Wowee! Thanks Dave.

    I knew you could export the Impression file as DDF, and was
    actually going to suggest that to Harriet. Then I realised
    that you (Harriet) almost certainly knew that and that you
    knew that all the graphics would be missing.

    I've just dragged a 7.5 MB Impression file to OvPro and it
    took less than 5 seconds to load. The only thing that I can
    see that's wrong is that the facing page format has been
    ignored.

    You live and learn...

    John

    --
    John
    newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
    j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dave@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 15:54:18
    In article <5ce3a0c950newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk>,
    John <newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
    In article <5ce417de7edave@triffid.co.uk>, Dave
    <dave@triffid.co.uk> wrote:

    I assume you are aware of being able to drop a Publisher
    file onto the Ovation Pro Icon bar Icon to import it.

    Wowee! Thanks Dave.

    I knew you could export the Impression file as DDF, and was
    actually going to suggest that to Harriet. Then I realised
    that you (Harriet) almost certainly knew that and that you
    knew that all the graphics would be missing.

    I've just dragged a 7.5 MB Impression file to OvPro and it
    took less than 5 seconds to load. The only thing that I can
    see that's wrong is that the facing page format has been
    ignored.

    You live and learn...

    John

    Back in the very early days of OvPro I had to convert my Publisher files
    to OvPro manually...ie. Reconstruct each one.

    Later with the arrival of the Publisher converter facility it became easy peasy... As you've found, requiring only a few adjustments. :-)

    If only we'd also had an OvPro to Word converter... :-)

    Dave

    --

    Dave Triffid

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Chris Newman@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 22:19:54
    In article <f2b9e4e35c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet Bazley


    (So far as I can see, the only way to produce a DocX file is to export
    in Word format from EasiWriter and then find a working /doc to /docx converter site on the Internet, which I've had to do once or twice....)

    Do you have a Windows or inux machine.

    I export EasiWriter docs as MS then load them into the free Libre Office
    then re=save as Docx.

    --
    Chris Newman

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Chris Newman@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 22:31:05
    In article <5ce45d6de8mec@npost.uk>,


    Do you have a Windows or inux machine.

    OOps! Linux machine of course.

    LibreOffice is freely available to download for both operating systems.

    I often use it to translate XLSX files back to XLS to read on RISC OS.

    --
    Chris Newman

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 23:38:41
    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    Chris Newman wrote:

    In article <f2b9e4e35c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet Bazley

    (So far as I can see, the only way to produce a DocX file is to export
    in Word format from EasiWriter and then find a working /doc to /docx converter site on the Internet, which I've had to do once or twice....)

    Do you have a Windows or Linux machine.

    No.

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    USER ERROR: replace user and press any key to continue.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Friday, June 05, 2026 23:43:18
    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    Dave wrote:

    [snip]

    I assume you are aware of being able to drop a Publisher file onto the Ovation Pro Icon bar Icon to import it.

    I think that's possibly how I imported the document in the first place, although given the custom page size borders (4.1" x 7.1") possibly it
    wasn't!

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    Old Programmers never die. They just terminate and stay resident

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From John@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, June 06, 2026 10:20:14
    In article <71a464e45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet
    Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall, Chris Newman wrote:

    Do you have a Windows or Linux machine.

    No.

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    John

    --
    John
    newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
    j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, June 06, 2026 15:33:07
    On 6 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    John wrote:

    In article <71a464e45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet
    Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall, Chris Newman wrote:

    Do you have a Windows or Linux machine.

    No.

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving Windows I go to the
    library and use their network for half an hour or so on my way home.

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    Oregano: The ancient Italian art of pizza folding.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jean-Michel@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, June 06, 2026 19:22:05
    In message <0a06bce45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 6 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    John wrote:

    In article <71a464e45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet
    Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall, Chris Newman wrote:

    Do you have a Windows or Linux machine.

    No.

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving Windows I go to the library and use their network for half an hour or so on my way home.

    Bravo!

    I use Risc OS for 95% of my usage.
    Generally I use Techwriter, but I discovered Ovation and it's also a very
    good software.


    --
    Jean-Michel

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Chris Newman@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, June 06, 2026 20:18:33
    In article <047ecbe45c.jmb@jmc.bruck.orange.fr>, Jean-Michel <jmc.bruck@orange.fr> wrote:
    In message <0a06bce45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> Harriet Bazley
    <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 6 Jun 2026 as I do recall, John wrote:

    In article <71a464e45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet Bazley
    <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    On 5 Jun 2026 as I do recall, Chris Newman wrote:

    Do you have a Windows or Linux machine.

    No.

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving Windows I go to
    the library and use their network for half an hour or so on my way
    home.

    Bravo!

    I use Risc OS for 95% of my usage. Generally I use Techwriter, but I discovered Ovation and it's also a very good software.

    I'd say about 85-90% for me. My laser printer has ceased to play nicely
    so I print through Windows. I use Libre Office for some file conversions.
    I also use the Windows versions on OvationPro and Fireworks. I put those
    on the wife's Windows machine also (No, I can't convert her) so I can
    send her stuff.
    I use windows browsers if RISC OS can't cope.
    I watch a bit of YouTube on other platforms.
    I also use Android phones and tablets.
    This is probably about the average scenario for RISC OSers. (Is that a
    new word I've invented for a group of like minded people?)

    --
    Chris Newman

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From John@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, June 07, 2026 10:27:16
    In article <0a06bce45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet
    Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving
    Windows I go to the library and use their network for
    half an hour or so on my way home.

    Ah, but the default(?) OS for the Pi is a variant of Linux.
    I'm not sure what it's currently called but it is derived
    from Debian; definitely not Windows.

    John

    --
    John
    newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
    j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Harriet Bazley@3:633/10 to All on Monday, June 08, 2026 16:50:16
    On 7 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    John wrote:

    In article <0a06bce45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>, Harriet
    Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving
    Windows I go to the library and use their network for
    half an hour or so on my way home.

    Ah, but the default(?) OS for the Pi is a variant of Linux.
    I'm not sure what it's currently called but it is derived
    from Debian; definitely not Windows.

    I'm occasionally required to do something involving Windows. I have
    never been required by any organisation to do something involving Linux.
    :-p

    --
    Harriet Bazley == Loyaulte me lie ==

    When you breathe you inspire; when you do not breathe, you expire.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From John@3:633/10 to All on Monday, June 08, 2026 22:11:13
    In article <39c2cae55c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:
    On 7 Jun 2026 as I do recall,
    John wrote:

    In article <0a06bce45c.harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk>,
    Harriet Bazley <harriet@bazleyfamily.co.uk> wrote:

    Not even a Raspberry Pi?

    No. If I absolutely have to do something involving
    Windows I go to the library and use their network for
    half an hour or so on my way home.

    Ah, but the default(?) OS for the Pi is a variant of
    Linux. I'm not sure what it's currently called but it
    is derived from Debian; definitely not Windows.

    I'm occasionally required to do something involving
    Windows. I have never been required by any organisation
    to do something involving Linux.
    :-p

    How rude! ;-)

    I was suggesting using Linux simply to access Libre Office
    which Chris referred to up-thread.

    John

    --
    John
    newsmcc@blueyonder.co.uk
    j dot mccartney atte blueyonder dot co dot uk

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)