How can I compile where each text doc starts a new page?

Scrivener
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1

I use a particular long form novel project structure in Scrivener: folders for chapters, and each text doc contained in the chapter folder is a ‘scene’.

What I’m trying to accomplish is that when I compile, each text doc (as well as chapter folder) starts on a new page. Using the default compiles it just puts page breaks at the end of the folder contents, which makes sense, but how would I go about changing this without having to add a page-break at the end of every text doc? Thanks!

2

This is a pretty easy adjustment to make:

  1. Open up compile, and find the preview tile for your scenes, in the middle column.
  2. Click on it, and the pencil icon in the top right to edit it, taking note of its name. It will probably be “Text Section”, if you’ve been following the defaults of the standard templates.
  3. This will initially take you to the Section Layouts design tab, but what you really want is the Separators tab, so click there, and make sure to select the layout that is being used in the lower list on the left (it may already be selected for you).
  4. Set the Separator between sections setting to page breaks. This will insert a page break between any two items that are also scenes. If you change the top one, that will also insert one at the top of sequence of scenes, or between the first scene and the chapter heading—essentially putting it on its own page. So that may not be quite what you want.
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3

I add try testing how it looks using a compile collection. Make a collection with an Act/Part (if have one), two chapters (to check on numbering schemes) and scenes from two chapters, and Front/Back Matter. then choose the compile collection when compile. This makes compiling quicker so you can tweak and rapidly adjust till you get the result you want.

4

That worked perfectly, thank you so much!

5

I always test, but I just select the documents I want to compile and then use compile selection instead of manuscript. But once I finish drafting and need to produce actual manuscripts I’ll definitely give the compile collection method a try, thanks for a good suggestion.

6

Ok one more question, closely related… is there a way, instead of page breaks, to have a dividing line or three asterisks or some other special character or graphic as a break?

7

I have an article on separators on my website (other compile articles are there too. Look at this

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Page breaks between sections?