Understanding Word's section breaks
Every Word document created contains at least
one section. However, whenever you want to
perform certain types of formatting, such as
changing margins, headers and footers, page size,
page orientation, page numbering etc, you must
add sections to the document. Sections define
where these new formatting changes begin and,
sometimes, end.
For example, suppose you have a 5 page
document printed on A4 paper in portrait
orientation. Perhaps page 4 could be a table
which would more easily be viewed if it were
printed in landscape orientation. Setting this up
requires inserting a section break before and after
the table for that page, then designating in that
section that you want to change the page
orientation. Doing so assures that only that page
will be affected by this formatting change.
Section breaks are inserted by going to the Page
Layout tab and selecting Breaks. On the drop
down menu that appears, you'll be making a
selection from the lower half, under "Section
Breaks."
It's very important to note two things:
Section breaks are much easier to work with in
Draft view (select View tab, Draft), than in Print
Layout view. In Normal view, you actually see
the section break as a visible element, which can
be selected, copied, moved or deleted, just like
any other text in a document.
Make sure that all the formatting instructions
for a section are contained in the section before
the break at the end of the section.
Types of section breaks
Next Page: The most common type of
section break. Forces a new page at the
beginning of the section, used most frequently
to change page orientation, page numbering,
and headers and footers.
Continuous:
Inserts a section break
without forcing a new page. Used mostly for
things such as changing margins or changing the
number of newspaper-style columns in a
document. You may have to use this if you have
already created your document and want to
change formatting that would normally start on
a new page.
Even page: Forces the new page to start
on an even-numbered page. In order to
accomplish this, you may notice that Word
inserts an additional blank page when needed to
enforce this condition.
Odd page: Forces the new page to start
on an odd-numbered page. In order to
accomplish this, you may notice that Word
inserts an additional blank page when needed to
enforce this condition.
Selecting a section break
If you want to select a section break so that you
can copy, move or delete it, simply move the
mouse over the visible section break (in Draft
view), all the way to the left edge of the screen
until it turns from an I-beam into an
arrow. Then click the mouse button to select
the break. You will see that the section break
becomes selected. Now you can copy, cut,
paste or delete it.
Changing headers and footers in a document
Insert a section break as described above before
the section where the header/footer is to be
changed. Make sure the cursor is in the new
section and choose the Insert tab, Header, Edit
Header.
This brings up a new toolbar which gives options
for inserting page numbers, dates or other
information. You can change the formatting of
headers and footers for this section or link the
header to the previous section if you wish to
retain the format.
PC Information
Sheet 09
Section Breaks in
Word