Setting Page Margins
The white space around text on the printed page is the margin area. You can change the top, bottom, left and right margins. You can set margins in two different ways: by dragging margin markers on the Ruler bar, or by setting margins in the Page Setup dialogue box.
Do not confuse page margins with paragraph indents. Changing a paragraph's indents pushes the text in or out from the left and right margins. The margins establish the overall width of the main text and the space between the main text and the edges of the page.
Note: Moving the margins moves the indents at the same time. The indents will stay the same distance from the margins as before.
To change page margins from the Ruler bar
- Position the mouse pointer over a margin border
Tip: This is the border between the grey and white sections on the ruler line.
The pointer will change to a double-headed arrow and a ToolTip is displayed.
Setting the left margin
- Click-and-drag the margin to the new location
To change page margins from the menu
- From the File menu, select Page Setup...
The Page Setup dialogue box is displayed.
Page Setup - Margins dialogue box
- Click the Margins tab, if necessary
- Set the Top:, Bottom:, Left: and Right: margins as required by clicking in the box and typing a value or by using the spin arrows to adjust the value
The Preview panel displays the effect of the new margin settings.
Tip: To keep the selected settings as standard for all new documents, click the Default... button. The Office Assistant will prompt you to confirm this action.
Note: To display values in centimetres, from the Tools menu, select Options and click the General tab. Click the drop-down arrow on the Measurement units: list box and select Centimeters.
