Writer Guide

Step 3. Create the master document and
subdocuments from the same template
If you are starting a new project, create the master document and all
the subdocuments from the same template. Not using the same
template could create style inconsistencies that require time and effort
to correct. For example, if two subdocuments have a style with the
same name that is formatted differently in each document, the master
document will use the formatting from the first subdocument that was
added. This could cause your document not to look like you expect.
Using the same template for all subdocuments saves time and
frustration.
It does not matter in what order you create the master and
subdocuments, and you do not have to create all the subdocuments at
the same time, when you are starting the project. You can add new
subdocuments at any time, as you need them—as long as you always
create them from the same template.
Create the master document
Follow this process to create the master document. You can use other
methods, but each method (including this one) has its drawbacks.
1) Open a new document from the template you created in Step 2,
by clicking New > Templates and Documents, then selecting
the template you created. Be sure the first page of this new
document is set to the page style you want for the first page of
the final document; if it is not, change it. In our example, the style
for the first page is Title page .
2) If any text or page breaks came into this document from the
template, delete the text. (Fields in headers and footers can stay.)
3) Click File > Send > Create Master Document. Save the
master document in the folder for this project, not in the
templates foldert. We will return to this master document later.
For now, you can either leave it open or close it, as you prefer.
Create subdocuments
A subdocument is no different from any other text document. It
becomes a subdocument only when it is linked into a master document
and opened from within the master document. Some settings in the
master document will override the settings in a subdocument, but only
when the document is being viewed, manipulated, or printed through
the master document.
Chapter 13 Working with Master Documents 419