Expert: Wayne Johnson - 8/1/2011

Question
Hello Wayne,

Thank you for volunteering your time, and for sharing your expertise. I've created a template in FM 8.0, and need to add a custom master page. Currently the template contains a first, left, and right master pages. I added a new custom page and named it "Last" because I want it to appear as the last page of the document. When I go to the body pages and apply the new master page (Last) to the body page, it's showing as the second page in the document. I only want this to appear as the last page and am not sure how to do this. This template will be used to create PDF files with multiple pages. If I don't know how long pages this file will be, then how do I know where to apply this custom master page (Last)? The purpose of the "Last" master custom page is to show the file name. Appreciate any insight you can offer. Thanks again.

Answer
Mary - As I don't have Frame 8 - the information is from Frame 7.
There are 2 Solutions to your Problem - One is Manual and the Other will be automatic:

MANUAL SOLUTION:
You will have to "manually" apply your "Last" Master page to the last page in your document.
As far as I know the only pagination that is automatic is when you select 2 sided for your document and then use a "Left" and "Right" Master Page, (which are odd and even page numbering).

Have your mouse in the text frame of your last page and then to apply the "Last" page format, go to the Menu Bar and select FORMAT - PAGE LAYOUT - MASTER PAGE USAGE.
In the "Popup" menu under USE MASTER PAGE - Select Custom and then Select the Master Page Name you want to use.
In the Apply To Section:
Current Page should be selected.
Then select APPLY and the format should be applied.
A couple of things to remember:
If you put text in the text frame on the master page - it will not appear on the body pages.
You have to added it as graphic text or create an new text box and then the popup menu should ask you if you want to add the frame for "background" information you want on each page.
Also you will have to manually adjust the page formatting if you add additional pages.

AUTOMATIC SOLUTION
If you are using a Frame Book the easiest way to do this might be to, create a 1 page document and add it immediately after the applicable Chapter in your book. You will have to do this for each chapter in your book, (since Framemaker will not allow you to add the same file twice) and then setup the file to "continue" numbering from the previous file for each of the "last page" chapters.
This way the "last page"  will always be the last page for each Chapter in your book
Your book should look something like the following:

Frame Book:
Chapter 1
Chapter 1 Last Page
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 Last Page
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Last Page

Regards, Wayne