* Free Page Content

[billygee]

F.H Version 6

I am producing a book to be saved in PDF Format. Is a Free Page exactly as described?

I would like to include a Free Page containing a picture of the family crest, and below it a description of the origin of the family name in the type and font size of my choice, is that possible?

Many thanks,

billygee

[tatewise]

I am not sure if this will work, but instead of a Free Page, try creating a Media Record in FH for the crest and add Note/Caption text as required, then Media report for that record may produce the page you want perhaps with a little customisation.

Alternatively, with the Free Page approach you would need to create a PDF page of crest and text (perhaps using MS Word and save as PDF) then merge that page into the PDF book using a PDF merge/edit tool.

[billygee]

Hi Mike,

I have created the required page in M/S Word, but to save it in .pdf format I would have to pay a monthly subscription (not acceptable for a one off) I then tried to copy from Word and paste into a F,H Free Page The text pasted OK but not in the font style and size of the copy, and there doesn't seem to be an option to change this. Also the picture wouldn't paste.

The other option you suggested, but not sure it would work, I'm afraid I would need a layman's step by step instructions to attempt this if that would be possible.

I await your further comments

billygee

[wulliam]

I use http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp to 'print' documents to pdf - it's free and very easy to use.

[billygee]

Hi William

Many thanks for that Cute pfd info, Just tried it. FANTASTIC!!!

billygee

[wulliam]

Excellent

[tatewise]

What version of MS Word are you using, as all recent versions have a free built-in File > Save As PDF option?

A what stage are you having problems with the other option?
I presume you know how to use Add > Media item to FH (just like any other Media image).
In the Records Window open that new Media Record and add some Note text describing the crest.
Use the Publish ... Media Report option to see what the default report produces.
You may need to use the Report Options to obtain a better ouput.
Then in the Book choose that Media Report where you want that page to appear.

[billygee]

Hi Mike,

I am using Word 2002, but that is no longer an issue as I have now converted the file to .pdf.

Regarding the other option you suggested. In a word, I haven't tried it, as you were not sure that it would work, so I took what I thought was the easier method. Easiest because I am still absorbing the basics of the very powerful and complex program that F.H.is. I have said before that I find the terminology hard to grasp. It's a case of 'it's easy if you know how'. That is why I asked for blow by blow instructions in layman's terms.

So my position at the moment stalemate. As I have never used Adobe Reader before, I am now trying to find how to merge my .pdf file into my book.
If and when I achieve this, can I ask if this merge will be saved in F.H. as, at some stage I will be editing the book as I find more family info?

billygee

[tatewise]

Word 2002 is very old and does not have a File > Save As PDF option, but you have a solution.

As its name implies, Adobe Reader does NOT support merge/edit of PDF files.
You will need a PDF Editor to perform this task after using FH to Save Book As > PDF File and must be repeated every time the Book is updated, as it cannot be saved into FH. BUT read on...

So having now regained access to FH V6 I believe the Multimedia Report will give you a workable solution as follows:

1. Create/Edit the Media Record
   • Use Add > Pictures and select your family crest image to create an unlinked Media Record in the Media Window.
   • Double-click the record to open its Property Box (or use View > Properties).
   • Edit the Title: to hold the heading for the eventual Book page.
   • Edit the Note: to hold the descriptive text for the Book page, below the family crest image. It can be as long as you like, with newline breaks if required, but it can only be plain text in one font (NO bold, italic, or underline.)
   • You can also edit the Date: and Keywords: and Custom Id: fields, but probably won't appear in the Book page.
   • Later on, via the Records Window and Media tab, this Property Box can be opened and edited as many times as you need.
2. Customise the Media Report
   • Now use Publish > Media Report to obtain the default report format, and customise the Options as follows.
   • On the Main tab, untick Display Main Note as Picture Caption and probably Show Date in Picture Caption.
   • On the Data Items tab, select each Main Section in turn, click Edit and choose Hide, except for the Main Notes (and any other you may want to Show).
     (If this is still not quite satisfactory, ask for further advice, but clarify exactly what is wanted.)
   • Finally, use Save Report As > Custom Report Type with the Custom Report Name of Media Family Crest.
3. Add this Media Report to Book
   • In the Edit Book window, select Other Report, click > and choose Media Family Crest.
   • Use the Move Up/Down arrows to position the page where required in the Book.

[billygee]

Hi Mike,

I have followed your instructions successfully. However, viewing the now edited book, the text below the Crest is showing to the right of the page. On the left of the page is the word Note, then quite a large space before the text begins to the right of the page. Is it possible to delete the word Note, and centralize the text?

Thank you for your help in this matter. I would challenge anyone to accomplish this task without technical help.

It's such a pity that it isn't possible to choose font style and size, as an 'Olde English Style font would be much more attractive. ( is this worth putting on the Wish List?

Thanks again,

billygee

[tatewise]

OK, now you have the general principles it is a matter of adapting the Options for the Media Family Crest custom report.
However, beware that some Options are governed by Book Settings that will affect the whole Book (see later).

To get the Note text centred without a Note: label, try the following Options via Publish > Custom Reports > Media Family Crest report:
On the Main tab, tick Display Main Note as Picture Caption which centres the Note text under the image, and Hides the labelled Note:.
On the Pictures tab, set the Main Picture: ~ Size to Custom and adjust the Height so the crest and caption fill the page, thus making the Caption as wide as possible.
Click the Picture Gaps button and set Gap between Picture and Caption slightly larger to move the Caption text down a little.
You can use Apply at each step to see what the report looks like.
When happy, OK out of the Options and use Save Report As > Custom Report Type > Media Family Crest.

Now use Publish > Books, and X Delete the old Family Crest page from Current Book Items, then insert the revised Media Family Crest report page as before.

You can use Book Settings > Format tab to select any Font (including Old English) for Caption but unfortunately it will affect ALL Captions under ALL images, not just the Family Crest page.

[billygee]

Mike,

I am having problems with your latest instructions, In the Report Options/Pictures Tab, I have increased the picture size to fill the screen as you suggested, which also increases the text. What I am trying to achieve is to have a picture of normal size and the text the full page width. No matter how I adjust I can only make the picture and text the same size. What am I doing wrong please?

billygee

[tatewise]

You are doing nothing wrong, because the text is a Caption for the Picture it will always be the same width as the image.

So what you can do is use an image editor to add a white border to the left and right of the family crest image. Then although the image and the text will be as wide as the page, the invisible white border left & right will make the family crest smaller and in the centre.

[billygee]

I will try to do this in Photoshop, but what I can't understand is that in the first instance everything was OK except it showed the word NOTE and the text wasn't centralized

[tatewise]

As I said, the text under the image is a Caption, and is with image Captions throughout all Reports and Books it is only as wide as the image. Because the family crest image is central its Caption is central, but if you look at image options they can be on the left, on the right, or in rows, but in each case the Caption is under the image.

The Note: labelled text is just one of many Data Items that could be shown in a Media Report and is similar to labelled entries in other types of report, such as Individual Events and Attributes in Individual Summary Reports. It is possible to hide the Note: label, and the left-hand margin can be reduced, but would affect all similar Data Items throughout the Book in other Reports.

[billygee]

Hi Mike,

I have created a picture of the crest with a plain border to the left and right, full page width, but I'm still having a problem with the end product which now shows the text under the picture full page width, and centralized as required, but above the picture and to the left is the text The Graham Fam Crest in large bold letters. I am obviously doing something wrong, I have started from scratch many times but can't find what. Can you help further>
Regards
billygee

[tatewise]

That text is the Record Title of the Report just like every other Report you produce.
In this case it is the Title of the Media Record for your family crest image.
You have two options:

• Open that Media record's Property Box and change its Title.
• Use the Report > Options > Format tab, select the Heading = Record, click Edit, and enter whatever Heading Text you desire, or Hide it completely, but whatever it is will appear in Contents of Book.

Finally, remember to Save Report As > Custom Report Type > Media Family Crest and insert into your Book as before.

I have thought of another method to get what you want and even have Old English font.
This uses View > Standard Diagram Types > Blank Diagram then use the following steps.

• Use Diagram > Options > Background: One colour and in Options select white, OK.
• Use Diagram > Insert into Diagram > Picture and choose your family crest image.
• Adjust the size & position of this image similar to an image inserted into MS Word.
• Use Diagram > Insert into Diagram > Text Box and draw a box under image.
• Use Diagram > Format and enter the Text you want on the page.
• Click Font button and choose Old English font, style, size, colour.
• Set Alignment to Centred.
• On Line and Fill tab set Fill and Line to None.
• Use Diagram > Save Diagram As > Family Historian Chart named Family Crest.

Now in Edit Book select Saved Chart click > and choose Family Crest.
In Select Chart Pages click Position on Page then use cursor to drag to middle of one page.

[billygee]

EUREKA. At last, after a very long slog we've got there. Thanks to your expertise, time, and patience I have finally got the Font type and size that I wanted. I found that centralizing the text didn't look right so I changed it to Justified which is much better. The icing on the cake would have been Fully Justified text, but that didn't seem to be available so I am very happy with the outcome.

As always, my very grateful thanks. YOU ARE A WHIZ!!!!

Regards,

billygee

[tatewise]

I am glad we got there in the end. I don't use Books much so it was a useful learning curve.

I now realise that a Blank Diagram has some of the capabilities of a word-processor.
You can insert Picture images and adjust their size & position, etc.
You can insert Text Boxes and adjust their size, position, text, font, alignment, line and fill, etc.
These components can be placed on top of each other and Grouped together in various ways.
So this offers great freedom to construct pages of a Book.

I will add some notes on this technique to the Knowledge Base.