Back in Scrivener 2.0, it was possible to add a page break before each front matter document by ticking a check box next to it in the compiler window. Now in Scrivener 3, everything works by section types, which I’m still a little confused by. Can someone walk me through creating a section type for front matter documents that includes a page break before each document in the custom formatting, and then applying that section type in the compiler? Thanks ever so much. Here is what my compiler window looks like right now.
I’m having the same problem. I’ve tried the user manual and the upgrade document but can’t find the answer. This project is converted from v.2, and this is the first time I’m trying to compile to PDF for a Paperback Book. My front matter includes these documents:
Reviews
Title Page
copyright
Other Books by me
Dedication
All are assigned to the Front Matter section type, under the Paperback Book subfolder, which also has a section type of Front Matter.
Reviews prints as the first two pages in the PDF, expected. Title Page and copyright both print after a page break (though it occurs to me that the copyright page break may be due to the length of the Title Page content falling at just the right point). The other two documents stream after the copyright text with no page breaks.
According to the Upgrade guide, assigning these documents to the Front Matter section type should result in automatic page breaks. To add to the complexity, I want all of them except the copyright page to break to a recto page. I want copyright to break to a verso page so it will appear on the verso of the Title Page.
Assigning a section type may not be enough in itself, depending on how Compile is set up. A section type just tells Scrivener what sort of document an item is. You then have to tell Compile how to format section types by using “Assign Section Layouts…”. So, in Compile, click on “Assign Section Layouts…”, and ensure that a section layout is assigned to the “Front Matter” section type that will insert a page break before each document.
Well, I’m starting to get the hang of it. Your explanation was very helpful, and I’ve also realized that I can’t do everything I want to do with a single Front Matter Section Type. I’ve created special types to handle some of the formatting issues, but there is one thing I haven’t been able to figure out how to do: cause a page break before a new text document. For my one Back Matter page, I created a folder so a page break would come before the text. I don’t want to have separate folders for all of my Front Matter pages. If you’d like, I can create and attach a small test project so you can see what I’ve done, but I think all I need now is a description of how to create a Section Layout that will insert page breaks before text documents as well as folders.
Sorry, I’ve been away for a few days, only popping in here very briefly. You definitely don’t need to create a folder just to add a page break. It sounds as though you are on the right track with realising that you probably have more than one type in your front matter folder if some documents in there need page breaks before them but others don’t.
You control whether a section has a page break before it using the “Separators” area of the Compile format. So, in your case, you should edit your Compile format and duplicate the Section Layout you are using for your front matter (click on it and then click “+” to create a new Section Layout that uses the same settings). Then, under “Separators”, select your new Section Layout and set it up so that “Separator before sections” and “Separator between sections” is set to “Page break”. Finally, make sure any front matter documents that require such a page break have a Section Type applied that is assigned to your new Section Layout via Assign Section Layouts.
Based on what you’ve said so far, and how you seem to be getting to know many of these features, I’m assuming the above should be enough for you to go on, but if you need further elaboration, please let me know - feel free to attach a small sample project if you that would still help.
