Styles, Master pages, Scrapbook... same behavior ?

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omoro

Hi dear developpers.

Styles are wonderfull because you can change them anytime and the entire book is modified at once.

Unfortunately it is not the case with scrapbook. It's nice at the beginning because the same layout of frames can be used many times. BUT if you want to change the layout in the entire book, it does not seem to be possible (unless you create a python script maybe).

It would be very nice to have Styles, Master pages, Scrapbook with the same behavior. Changes should be possible anytime and the entire book would be modified.

Book => Sections => Master pages => Scrapbook (with frames) => Styles

Styles => Paragraph / Character / Table / Images / etc..

Meanwhile, you better think twice to get your MP and Scrapbook correct right from the start. It's not easy to change after creating 200 pages !

I guess that suggestion is a bit difficult to program, but it would be nice.

Anyway thanks a lot for your work. Scribus is very nice software.




joseb

Hello,

If I understand correctly, you would like to:
- Create an object (image, shape, or text frame, etc.) to insert it in several places in the document.
- Modify the "original" object and have it update in all the places where you have inserted it.

Instead of using Scrapbook, you can try INLINE ITEMS or SYMBOLS.

Things to keep in mind:
- Scrapbook allows you to organize your "objects" better.
- INLINE ITEMS can only be inserted within text frames, but they change everywhere you insert them.
- I like INLINE ITEMS because they resize correctly when you change the "original" and can be inserted into master pages.
- SYMBOLS are quite unstable (in my experience) and have given me some problems.
- One of the things I don't like about SYMBOLS is how they resize when you change the proportions of the "original" object.
- Other problems I've had with SYMBOLS are document display issues and the fact that some of my files don't print if I insert them into master pages.

I think the best thing to do is to try both options and see if INLINE ITEMS or SYMBOLS can help you as a complement to Scrapbook.

Lynn

Ah, see I interpreted this as a request for the ability to resize mostly text or image frames in order to change the page layouts. I still don't think that would be easy to implement via changes to the scrapbook - the scrapbook just creates copies of objects & there's nothing in Scribus to tell the objects that they originally came from the scrapbook.

If there's a continuous text chain, it probably could be done by deleting all but the first instance and then adding them back with the multiple duplicates function after editing? But if there's a number of different text chains in the document this would definitely break things.

A "Multiple Transform" tool that could look for objects "like" the selected item (same location on the page,  same size and/or same naming convention) and transform them all together would be extremely handy for what you're describing.

In the meantime, you could definitely do something like that with a script by either looking for:
1. the name of the object (which only works if you gave the objects unique names prior to copying them into the scrapbook; otherwise they get assigned generic names like any text box/polygon. My wishlist would be items copied from the scrapbook being flagged with the scrapbook item name)
2. objects that are the same location/size on the page

omoro

Hi,
Thanks for your suggestion but "In line items" or "Symbols" or "Script" don't seem to do the job for me.
I realized the all is needed would be "Master Pages" with modifiable frames. That could be a property of the frame : "fixed (by default) versus modifiable". Then you just put MP in the book and you could just import content, or if really needed, modify the layout of the frame.

Lynn

I don't disagree that frames on master pages to set up your page layout would be very nice. As far as I know, that's the way this feature is implemented in InDesign & Affinity Publisher.

But there's a feature request for it in the bug/feature tracker from 2006; the fact it hasn't gotten any movement in 20 years makes me think it's unlikely to happen in the near future: https://bugs.scribus.net/view.php?id=3338

joseb

Sorry for the earlier suggestion with INLINE ITEMS or SYMBOLS. I didn't understand what you were looking for.

I guess what you're looking for might be something like this:
- You have several text frames throughout your Scribus document.
- All of those text frames are linked so that the text flows from frame to frame.
- At some point in the workflow, you would like to change the size or position of a "source" frame and have all the following frames adjust accordingly. For example, if you decide to change the width of the frame, all frames should automatically adjust their width.

On the other hand, I have also read what you say about text frames in "linkable" or "modifiable" masters, as other programs do. It seems to be difficult because the bug tracker issue has been stalled for a long time.

I think Scribus should stop looking at other DTP software. Perhaps look for other ways to solve problems that are not so focused on Desktop Publishing.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION
I thought it would be good if Scribus could identify within the document:
- A "source" object. We could name this object "GEOM_ORIGEN"
- Several "destination" objects. The names of these objects could contain "GEOM_SYNC_"

These objects could be text frames, an image frame, or a geometric shape, etc.

Then generate a script that copies the size and position of "GEOM_ORIGEN" and modifies it in all "GEOM_SYNC_" objects.

I've attached the script in case you want to try it at the following link:
sync_frame_geometry.py

I've also attached a GIF so you can see it in action:


This is a first test I've generated with AI. Unfortunately, I'm not a programmer, but maybe someone else can improve it.

I also don't know if there's anything similar already built into Scribus.

I think a feature like this could be incorporated into Scribus within the LOCK or GROUP tools. That way, you could link size/position/etc. between objects and manage these values from a source object.

omoro

Well, let me explain again what could be very usefull.
My book is using several layouts and the basic job is done with Master Pages and Styles.
Afer applying a MP, I copy several frames from the Scrapbbok. Then I import the content (textfile.txt and image.jpg).
When I want to change the layout (for various reasons) I need to change the frames one by one. Very fastidious.

Now imagine I set up all my frames in the MP. After applying the MP to pages, I just need to import text and images. Fast and easy. Let's say I want to move a frame or change the style inside. I just change the MP and that's it !

All what is needed is to have the choice for each frame of the MP: fixed OR modifiable.
If it's too much to ask, at the very least, text and image frames in a MP can be fixed BUT could import content.