Page and Document Layout (Grade 10 NSC Matric Computer Application Technology): Revision Notes

Worked Example: Adjusting Page Margins

Step 1: Navigate to the Layout tab in the ribbon menu, where you'll find all the page formatting options grouped together in the Page Setup section.

Step 2: Click on the Margins command to see a dropdown menu with predefined margin options.

Step 3: Select from several preset margin sizes, or choose "Custom Margins" if you need specific measurements.

Step 4: When you select Custom Margins, the Page Setup dialogue box opens, allowing you to set exact measurements for the top, bottom, left, and right margins.

Step 5: Adjust each margin individually by typing in your desired measurements (for example, you might set the top and bottom margins to 4 cm each for a more formal document appearance).

Step 6: Click OK to apply the changes to your document.

Worked Example: Changing Page Orientation

Step 1: Select the Layout tab in the ribbon.

Step 2: In the Page Setup group, find and click the Orientation command.

Step 3: A dropdown menu appears showing both Portrait and Landscape options.

Step 4: Click on your preferred orientation, and Word will immediately adjust your document layout.

Result: The change applies to your entire document unless you've set up different sections with varying orientations.

Worked Example: Changing Page Size

Step 1: Go to the Layout tab and click on the Size command in the Page Setup group.

Step 2: A dropdown menu will appear displaying various page size options, with the current size highlighted.

Step 3: You'll see standard options like Letter, Legal, Executive, and A4, along with their dimensions in centimetres.

Step 4: Select the page size that best suits your needs by clicking on it.

Result: Word will immediately adjust your document to the new dimensions, which may cause your content to reflow depending on the size change.

Worked Example: Adding Page Borders

Step 1: Go to the Home tab and look for the Borders option in the Paragraph group.

Step 2: Click on the dropdown arrow next to Borders and select "Borders and Shading" from the menu.

Step 3: In the Borders and Shading dialogue box, click on the Page Border tab to access page-specific border options.

Step 4: Choose from various border styles and preset options:

• None: Removes any existing borders
• Box: Creates a simple rectangular border around the page
• Shadow: Adds a shadow effect to the border
• 3-D: Creates a three-dimensional appearance
• Custom: Allows you to design your own border combination

Step 5: Customise the border's colour, width, and artistic elements using the available options.

Step 6: In the "Apply to" section, choose whether to apply the border to the whole document, specific sections, or just the first page.

Step 7: Click OK to apply your border design to the document.

Worked Example: Inserting Page Numbers

Step 1: Navigate to the Insert tab and look for the Header & Footer group.

Step 2: Click on Page Number to see the available options.

Step 3: Choose to place page numbers at the top of the page (in the header) or at the bottom of the page (in the footer).

Step 4: Select from various formatting styles and positions that complement your document's overall design.

Step 5: Under the Design tab that appears when working with headers and footers, you can insert additional elements like the current date and time if needed.

Worked Example: Inserting Page Breaks

Step 1: Position your cursor where you want the new page to begin.

Step 2: Go to the Insert tab and look for the Pages group.

Step 3: Click on Page Break to immediately create a new page at that position.

Alternative Method: Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Enter to quickly insert a page break without using the ribbon menu.

Viewing Page Breaks: To see where breaks have been placed in your document, go to the Home tab and click on the Show/Hide button (¶ symbol). This will display all formatting marks, including page breaks.