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Master pages act as template pages for your document. Master pages save you time because they allow you to type or draw information once on the master pages so that this information appears on all the pages of your document.
Depending on what type of document you are creating, master pages may or may not be a useful feature for you. It is most useful when creating documents where the same elements need to appear at the same location on each (or at least most) pages.
Some elements that might be useful to include on your master pages:
By default, the Document Master is applied to all pages in your initial publication.
Click the L/R page icons![]()
Add all text and graphic elements that you want to appear on each page of your document and create any necessary columns
To view the results within your document, click the icon for any page(s)
For some pages of your publication, it might be helpful to have a different master page to apply. After creating additional master pages, PageMaker will display the newly created master page in the publication window and add its name to the Master Pages palette.
From the Window menu, select Show Master Pages
OR
Press [Shift] + [Ctrl] + [8]
The Master Pages palette appears.

From the Master Pages palette, click NEW MASTER PAGE![]()
The New Master Page dialog box appears.

In the Name text box, type a name for the master page
Specify whether you would like a single page or a two-page spread
In the Margins and Column Guides sections, format your page(s) as desired
Click OK
By default, the Document Master is applied to all pages in your initial publication. To apply a master page to a page in your publication, do the following:
to the page(s) on which you want the master items displayed
From the Master Pages palette, select the master page you would like to apply
The Display Master Items feature may already be activated through PageMaker's default settings. If you are not seeing the master page items on your document, do the following:
Move to the page on which you want the master items displayed
From the View menu, select Display Master Items
The selection will have a checkmark next to it.
NOTE: When items are hidden, they do not print.
Move to the page on which you do not want the master items displayed
From the View menu, deselect Display Master Items
The selection will not have a checkmark next to it.
Move to the page on which you do not want selected master items displayed
Using the Rectangle tool and the shading options, draw a white rectangle over the items you wish to hide
NOTE: Refer to Drawing with PageMaker for more information.
To have PageMaker automatically do the page numbering:
On a master page, with the Text tool, create a text box
Press [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [P]
Either RM (right master) or LM (left master) appears.
When you move to a page within your document, the proper page number appears.