IGCSE ICT 0417 - 17 Document Production

Objective: Know and understand the purpose of setting page, section and column breaks.

This section explains the importance and functionality of using page, section, and column breaks when creating documents. Understanding these features is crucial for formatting documents effectively and achieving the desired layout.

1. Page Breaks

A page break forces the text to start on the next page. This is useful for ensuring that a specific section of content begins on a new page, regardless of where it ends on the previous page.

• Purpose: To control where a new page begins.
• How to use (example in word processing software): Insert > Page Break
• When to use:
• Starting a new chapter or major section.
• Ensuring a title appears at the top of a new page.
• Preventing a page from being awkwardly split between two different content areas.

2. Section Breaks

A section break allows you to apply different formatting to different parts of a document. This is particularly useful for creating documents with distinct layouts, such as those with different headers, footers, or margins in different sections.

Feature	Description
Different Headers/Footers	Allows different headers and footers to be applied to different sections of the document.
Different Margins	Enables different margin settings for various sections.
Different Page Numbering	Allows for different page numbering schemes in different sections.

Types of Section Breaks:

• Next Page: Starts the new section on the next page.
• Continuous: Starts the new section on the same page.
• Even Page: Starts the new section on the next even page.
• Odd Page: Starts the new section on the next odd page.

3. Column Breaks

A column break forces the text to continue on the next column. This is commonly used for creating layouts with multiple columns, such as newspapers, magazines, or reports with sidebars.

Purpose: To control the flow of text across multiple columns.

How to use (example in word processing software): Layout > Columns > Select the desired number of columns.

When to use:

• Creating newspaper or magazine layouts.
• Adding sidebars or notes to a main text column.
• Presenting data in a clear and organized manner.

Understanding and utilizing page, section, and column breaks are fundamental skills for producing well-structured and visually appealing documents in ICT.