I want to layout a book

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ama

Hi!

I am new here. I installed Scribus and am shocked. Nothing works as I want it.

Long ago I worked with several DTP programs, AMI pro being one of them. But Scribus is weirder than Word, and I do hate Word.

So, what I want to do: take a text and have it flow over the pages of the book automatically.

To see how Scribus works, I took an .sla file from someone and looked at the text in that file. As far as I can see, there are no hidden commands. I do hate Word for invisible commands. I DO!

But the .sla file is overloaded with a HUGE cloud of nonsense. So, working in that file is something for later, when I know how the commands work.

How can I START with the whole thing? I have no idea how many pages I need for the text. So the minimum is 4 pages:

  cover front
  page2  page3
  cover back

How can I make that?

How can I insert text, so that it will flow?

How can I add more pages, so that the whole text (more than 50 pages) will be handled correctly?

I use Scribus 1.5.8, english, on Linux. Something else can not be installed, because the insane operating system installer deletes other versions, even if newer. That is one of the reasons, why I say that programmers are idiots. Since I am a programmer, I am allowed to say that...

Thank you in advance
ama

AdmFubar

Quote from: ama on April 08, 2026, 11:07:23 PMHi!

I am new here. I installed Scribus and am shocked. Nothing works as I want it.

Long ago I worked with several DTP programs, AMI pro being one of them. But Scribus is weirder than Word, and I do hate Word.

So, what I want to do: take a text and have it flow over the pages of the book automatically.

To see how Scribus works, I took an .sla file from someone and looked at the text in that file. As far as I can see, there are no hidden commands. I do hate Word for invisible commands. I DO!

But the .sla file is overloaded with a HUGE cloud of nonsense. So, working in that file is something for later, when I know how the commands work.

How can I START with the whole thing? I have no idea how many pages I need for the text. So the minimum is 4 pages:

  cover front
  page2  page3
  cover back

How can I make that?

How can I insert text, so that it will flow?

How can I add more pages, so that the whole text (more than 50 pages) will be handled correctly?

I use Scribus 1.5.8, english, on Linux. Something else can not be installed, because the insane operating system installer deletes other versions, even if newer. That is one of the reasons, why I say that programmers are idiots. Since I am a programmer, I am allowed to say that...

Thank you in advance
ama
Ami Pro was an early word processor, not DTP  software. you may have to unlearn a few concepts for using Scribus. 

Scribus is for final assembly of of a document. 

Is your book going to have images in it? If so, are all the images ready? Is all the text written? Is this a novel, or something instructional?
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

ama

no images
but some longer quotes
the text is about finished, waits for some orthographic checks

All I need now is the layout.

AdmFubar

Will this be a physical printed book? or just a pdf?

Usually a dtp program is used for more that just text layout.
What details can you share about the document that you are putting together? What type, if any, changes to the fonts and their styling will be required?

Any other details that you can provide will be helpful. I'm trying to determine if scribus is a good match for what you are creating.
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

ama

> Will this be a physical printed book? or just a pdf?

Only printed on paper.


> Usually a dtp program is used for more that just text layout.

Sure. But the print company wants a PDF file.


> What details can you share about the document that you are putting together? What type, if any, changes to the fonts and their styling will be required?

All very simple. No pictures.


> Any other details that you can provide will be helpful. I'm trying to determine if scribus is a good match for what you are creating.

The question is not whether Scribus or not. The question is HOW?.


I need help to start the whole thing.

Today I installed Texlive. Looks like the same size of monster.








AdmFubar

What format is the text file in? plain text? or in some type of word processor file format?
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

ama

The text is in plain text ASCII.

AdmFubar

Excellent! That makes import less complicated. 

Since scribus doesnt handle auto text frames and pages when importing text. (at least for now)
A work around would be to use a word processor to get an idea  of how many pages you would need to fit the text for a given font

You can check here for some tips to get you started on this.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-standard-number-of-characters-for-one-page-typed


with some experimentation and trial and error you will learn to set up most documents with little modification  
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

ama

> A work around would be to use a word processor to get an idea  of how many pages you would need to fit the text for a given font

WOTT!? That is not what I am talking about.


> https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-standard-number-of-characters-for-one-page-typed

QUORA is absolutely out of ANY discussion.


I need to know how to start the whole stuff so that I can works on one page.

I told you I can program. But I do not want to reinvent the wheel.

utnik

hi ama

Quote from: ama on Today at 03:37:26 AMI need to know how to start

i can tell you how i do a project like yours. (but i would look for some basic tutorials before starting a project im a software that i don't know...)
take at least a look at all the menus and open 'properties' (f2) and 'content properties' (f3) to start.

when i know how my book should look like, i start by creating a new scribus file with 'facing pages'. (it doesn't really matter with how many pages i start. i might make it 100 to begin with...)
i define the page size and the margins. (with just text there is usually no need for bleeds.)
i would work with 'automatic text frames'. (not every scribus user recommends automatic text frames, but i like them for text heavy projects.)
depending on the page size i define one or two columns.
when the file is created i split the text chain after the first couple of pages for titles, impressum and all the stuff i need before the novel starts.
in the text chain after the split i load either the first chapter or the whole novel. (i always split the text chain after a chapter or at another sensible point, as scribus doesn't like very long text chains...)
now it's time to define the 'paragraph styles' (f4).
i use the 'default paragraph style' for the main text. but this is another thing, not everyone agrees with me...
if the text is set justified you need to hyphenate it and to define the values under 'advanced settings' in the 'style manager' to let it flow smooth.
if you use the 'baseline grid' (what i recommend...) you need to define it under 'file' → 'document setup' → 'guides'.
for your book i would place at least a page number on the normal 'master pages'. you may place other elements there if you like. but master page elements in scribus are not editable on individual document pages.

now you have at least a start.
you may need different master pages for the first part of your book. (maybe even for the start of a new chapter...) or character styles for special parts of your text. don't be lazy and format such things direct in the text. otherwise your book will grow to an editing nightmare.

good luck!
utnik
 

ama

> but i would look for some basic tutorials before starting
> a project im a software that i don't know...

NO !!!

I need to know how to start the whole thing step for step. I need at least one single document to see inside.

I am accustomed to work with software for over 40 years now. The whole mess piled up in mountains of not-needed functions spoils the whole architecture of software writing and software usage.

I need a WORKING start. Then I can change the parameters. That is the easiest and fastest way.

In a previous life I taught using editors and other software in classes. I am an engineer and programmer. I hoped I would not have to say this again.

utnik

well, if it's too hard for you to look up the basics in a couple of minutes of tutorials, then it's too hard for me to deal with your problems.

sorry to say that. but my time is valuable too...

utnik

ama

That is a lousy excuse.

The time you already invested you could have used for simply writing how to START to get 1 text file ready.

The "tutorials" are piles of crap and do not say how to get a fresh start.

Last night I got Texstudio started. The guys made one of the most insane software errors I encountered in all my life: "no write permission".
Last night I cracked that error. I wonder how those guys bind their shoelaces.