If you are working with a very large document, such as a book, it can be easier to manage the book with a master document, rather than keeping the book in a single file. A master document enables you to quickly apply formatting changes to a large document or to jump to each subdocument for editing.
A master document is a Writer document that serves as a container for multiple Writer files. You can maintain chapters or other subdocuments as individual files collected in the master document. Master documents are also useful if multiple users are working on a single document. You can separate each user’s section of the document into subdocuments collected in a master document, allowing multiple writers to work on their subdocuments at the same time without fear of overwriting the work of others.
Procedure 10.6: Creating a Master Document
Click New › Master Document.
or
Open an existing document and click File › Send › Create Master Document.
The Navigator
window will open. In it, choose Insert (
),
then choose File.
Select a file to add an existing file to the master document.
Procedure 10.7: Adding a New Document to a Master Document
In the window or
panel Navigator, choose Insert (),
then choose New Document.
A file chooser opens, to allow saving the new document. Specify a name, then click Save.
When you are done editing the new document, save it. Then switch back to the master document.
Update the master document with the contents of the new document. To do so, right-click the entry of your new document in the Navigator, then click Update › Selection.
To enter some text directly into the master document, select Insert › Text.
The LibreOffice help files contain more complete information about working with master documents. Look for the topic named Using Master Documents and Subdocuments.
Tip: Styles and Templates in Master Documents
The styles from all of your subdocuments are imported into the master document. To ensure that formatting is consistent throughout your master document, use the same template for each subdocument. Doing so is not mandatory.
However, if subdocuments are formatted differently, you might need to do some reformatting to successfully bring subdocuments into the master document without creating inconsistencies. For example, if two documents within a master document include styles with the same name, the master document will use the formatting specified for the style in the document imported first.