Adding Headers and Footers to a Publication in PageMaker

If you want your document to look professional and organized, adding headers and footers is a must. In Adobe PageMaker, it’s simple to insert and manage them once you understand the steps. This guide will walk you through how to create, position, and format headers and footers easily.

What Are Headers and Footers?

A Header is the line of text printed at the top margin of each page — usually showing the document title, author name, or page number. A Footer is the line printed at the bottom margin — often used for page numbers, dates, or copyright notes.

Why Use Headers and Footers?

• They give your publication a consistent and professional appearance.
• They make navigation easier, especially for multi-page documents.
• They provide important information like page numbers or section titles automatically.

Types of Headers and Footers in PageMaker

In PageMaker, you can define two main types:

• Consistent Headers and Footers: Appear the same on every page.
• Running Headers and Footers: Change automatically to show the current section, chapter, or content title.

Creating a Consistent Header or Footer

If you want the same header or footer on every page, follow these steps:

1. Open your publication and go to the Master Page view.
2. Click the master page icon at the top of the screen.
3. At the top of the page, click where you want your header to appear. For a footer, click near the bottom margin.
4. Type the text you want displayed on every page — for example, your company name or publication title.

Creating Running Headers and Footers

Running headers and footers automatically display changing text based on the page’s content. Here’s how to set them up:

1. Use the Pointer Tool to select the text block you want to use for the header or footer.
2. Click Utilities → Plug-ins → Running Headers & Footers.
3. A dialog box will appear. Select the Master or Publication Pages that have the guides you’ll use for positioning.
4. Click or drag the Place Icon to create a text block placeholder and move it to where you want your header or footer to appear.
5. Use the Nudge Buttons or the Position and Width boxes to adjust placement and size. You can snap the block to the nearest guide for alignment.
6. From the Content Style menu, select a paragraph style to control how the text looks.
7. In the Apply To section, choose which pages you want the header or footer to appear on. You can type specific page ranges, such as “1, 3–6, 10.”
8. Click Preview to see how it looks, and then click OK to apply.

Formatting Header and Footer Text Blocks

You can further format or reposition your header/footer text blocks at any time. Just follow these quick steps:

• Select the header/footer text block with the Pointer Tool.
• Go to Utilities → Plug-ins → Running Headers/Footers again.
• Use the Nudge Buttons or Position Boxes to fine-tune placement.
• Select a different paragraph style if you want to change the look of your text.
• Apply your settings to a range of pages or the entire story.

Removing Headers and Footers

If you no longer need a running header or footer, you can remove it easily:

1. Select any text block from the story that contains the header or footer.
2. Go to Utilities → Plug-ins → Running Headers & Footers.
3. Drag the placeholder for the header or footer off the page, then click OK.

Common Uses of Headers and Footers

• Dictionaries and encyclopedias (for alphabetical section names).
• Telephone or address directories (for page ranges).
• Books and reports (for chapter titles and page numbers).

5 FAQs of Adding Headers and Footers to a Publication in PageMaker

Conclusion

Headers and footers bring structure, readability, and professionalism to your PageMaker documents. Whether you need simple, consistent titles or dynamic running headers that adapt to your content, PageMaker gives you full control. Follow the steps above, experiment with styles, and soon you’ll master this essential publishing feature.