IGCSE ICT 0417 - 17 Document Production

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

Introduction

This section explains the importance and functionality of page breaks, section breaks, and column breaks in document production. Understanding these features allows for better formatting and organization of documents, making them more readable and professional.

Page Breaks

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

Purpose:

• Control the layout of the document by starting a new page at a desired point.
• Ensure that a section or chapter begins on a fresh page.
• Prevent text from being cut off at the end of a page.

How to insert a page break (example in word processor): Insert > Page Break

Section Breaks

A section break allows you to apply different formatting to different parts of the same document. This is particularly useful for creating documents with distinct sections, such as a cover page, table of contents, and main body.

Purpose:

• Apply different headers and footers to different sections.
• Set different page numbers for different sections.
• Change the orientation or margins for specific parts of the document.
• Insert page numbers that do not continue from the previous section.

Types of Section Breaks (example in word processor):

• 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.

Column Breaks

A column break forces the text to continue on the next column. This is commonly used for creating newspaper-style layouts, financial tables, or other documents with multiple columns.

Purpose:

• Create multi-column layouts.
• Control the flow of text between columns.
• Ensure that text wraps correctly within columns.

How to insert a column break (example in word processor): Layout > Columns > (Select number of columns) then Insert > Column Break

Summary Table

Conclusion

Mastering the use of page breaks, section breaks, and column breaks is crucial for producing well-structured and visually appealing documents. By understanding their purposes and how to use them effectively, you can enhance the readability and professionalism of your work.