Front matter appears as chapter one

[Essexstardust]

Hi, I am having an issue when I compile my manuscript to Microsoft word. The problem is with the front matter. I have tried lots of different options but must be doing something wrong as the front matter always comes out as chapter one, then my actual first chapter appears as chapter 2. My front matter also spreads over three pages on Word where, as on Scrivener, it’s all one.
Any help would be really appreciated.

[GoalieDad]

I am a windows user, but my dumb question is the Front matter folder in the Research folder and not accidently in the Manuscript.

[Essexstardust]

Yes, it’s definitely in the research folder and not the manuscript. I have just double-checked.

[xiamenese]

Hi Sam,

Have you got it sorted out? If not, can you post screenshots of how you’re set up, please?

Your “Front Matter” folder doesn’t have to be in research, but it must be outside the Draft/Manuscript:

So, a similar screenshot showing it and its contents.

Then another of your Compile main pane, like this…

… showing Add front matter ticked and what is selected in the dropdown.

Then (though I haven’t ever had to set this up, so can’t take it further at the moment) you need to check what layout is assigned
to the Front Matter documents… but I hope others will advise on that.

Mark

[Essexstardust]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for coming to my rescue again. I have attached some screenshots of where I am. Hoping it’s something obvious.

[rms]

What is at the top of the list of files to compile? See Screen shot of your screen shot.

[xiamenese]

@Essexstardust

My front matter also spreads over three pages on Word where, as on Scrivener, it’s all one.

I would have asked the question in @rms’ post too (if I had got there first ), and also how it relates to your “Front Matter” folder content.

Now, that “Front Matter Correct Austin”, leaving aside the above, you have given the Section type “Heading”, which is the same Section type assigned to “Chapters”. So on compiling it will use the same Section layout including the chapter numbering. This is why, presumably, it is what is appearing as “Chapter 1” with your real “Chapter 1” being numbered “2”.

Apart from that, in general, if you don’t want to disclose too much on an open forum:

• Is what you see compiled as “Chapter 1”, the content of “Front Matter Correct Austin”?
• Is “Front Matter Correct Austin” a document you imported from Word?
• What is the content of your “Front Matter” folder in Research?
• Does it contain three separate documents or just one?
• If it’s just one, is that document one that you imported from Word?
• Have you created a “Front Matter” Section type to which you can apply a suitable Section layout?

Mark

[Essexstardust]

• Is what you see compiled as “Chapter 1”, the content of “Front Matter Correct Austin”? YES
• Is “Front Matter Correct Austin” a document you imported from Word? NO
• What is the content of your “Front Matter” folder in Research? The Front matter correct Austin file
• Does it contain three separate documents or just one? one
• If it’s just one, is that document one that you imported from Word? NO
• Have you created a “Front Matter” Section type to which you can apply a suitable Section layout? NO

[xiamenese]

That helps a lot. Basically, you need to stop that “Front Matter Correct Austin” file which is at the head of your manuscript throwing out your chapter numbering. You can do this by:

1. Moving it out of the Manuscript; simply select it in the Binder and Ctrl-Cmd-Left Arrow;
2. Selecting it in the Binder and then in the Inspector → Tag (3rd column) unticking “Include in Compile”.

I’d do the first, then I’d compare that file to the one you currently have in your “Front Matter” folder and keep only the one which is fully correct in that folder, trashing the other.

Then, we need to talk you through setting the “Front matter” Section Type and assigning a Section Layout to it.

I’ve got to go out now, and I won’t be back till much later; also this is something I haven’t done yet (for front matter, that is) so I need time to work it out. So I hope someone else will come along in the meantime to help you with that.

Mark

[Essexstardust]

Phew, ok, got there eventually. Chapter 1 starts in the correct place now. So now just need to sort out the front matter being on several pages. Thanks again for your help. No rush, when you have time.
Sam

[xiamenese]

The front matter coming out as several pages in Word when it is a single document in Scrivener suggests that there are gremlins lurking in it. Gremlins (unwanted/erroneous bits of code) usually result from importing material from another app. But without seeing the actual documents, it’s hard to work out what’s going on.

Can you turn on “Show Invisibles” in Word (it must be possible, but as I don’t have Word… ) and take a screenshot showing the last line before it makes a new page, please? There should be an “invisible” New Page marker that should show up. And also a screenshot of where that stretch of text is in your Scrivener document so that we can compare the two.

My guess is that there’s something there that is creating the New Page marker. If I’m right, the immediate and simplest way of sorting it out is in Word replace the New Page markers with straightforward paragraph Returns. But it would also be helpful going forward to discover what it is in your Scrivener document.

Mark

[Essexstardust]

Hi Mark, I have taken some screenshots. Hope they help

[xiamenese]

Are those all from Word? If not, which one is Scrivener?

Is that (as shown in the last shot) the only content on the page in Scrivener? Where have all the blank lines come from?

If that is the content of the Scrivener document, can you select it in the Binder and choose File → Export save it as RTF to somewhere accessible, then compress it to .zip and either attach it to a post here, or, if you prefer, to a Private Message to me (click my avatar ) so I can have a look?

Mark

[kewms]

I’d recommend turning on View → Text Editing → Show Invisibles in Scrivener. That will help you see whether all those paragraph breaks are there in the source file.

You might also enable Page View in Scrivener to see if all that text really fits on one page.

One likely issue is that the “Manuscript” Compile format automatically double-spaces everything. Which isn’t necessarily what you want for something like a title page. So if you’ve formatted it with single spacing in Scrivener, you’ll want to use a Section Layout that preserves that.

[xiamenese]

Thanks for coming in @kewms. In point of fact @Essexstardust and I have been communicating by PM and I think I’ve identified the issue and am waiting for her to get back to me.

But it’s supper time for both of us here in the UK, so she’s no doubt otherwise engaged at the moment.

Mark