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Section Layout Assignment (Compiling with Scrivener 3) | ScrivenerVirgin

Lots of things can go wrong when you compile!

It is wise to compare the output with what you have in your manuscript.

Step-by-step with a non-fiction book

In my non-fiction book EDITING The RedPen Way, I wrote my Introduction as a sequence of scenes, using the guidance given at the Self-Publishing School. I explain how in this post.

The net result is that my document titles are part of the manuscript; they form the headings within the Introduction.

Step 1: Look at the output and compare with manuscript

When I compare the PDF output with my manuscript, I see they are missing! Instead of headings, I have a vertical spacing which looks odd.

section layout

Step 2: Consult the Inspector

Using the same strategy as last week, I check first to see what section type is assigned in the Inspector. They are all ‘scenes’, so I need to assign a section layout for Scene, one which includes the Section Title but doesn’t start on a new page.

section layout

I compile, and whoopee! my headings are just where I want them.

section layout

Step 3: Continue checking the content

I then scroll on, down through the PDF pages, comparing all the time with what I had in my original manuscript.

The next problem arises when I reach the first chapter.

section layout

A quick check of the Inspector – it’s the layout for Chapter Heading that needs fixing – and I am back to assigning layouts once more.

section layout

Step 4: Continue checking content!

I move on, only to find another issue! In Chapter 5, I have a more complicated structure of documents. Selecting which tense to use’ has section type ‘Section’ which has resulted in it starting on a new page.

I can’t amend that – it will ruin what’s already working elsewhere. Instead, I need another new section type?

section layout

No! I just need to change the section type to Scene.

Step 5: Continue checking content until exhausted!

I scroll on, and it’s all there.

And Scrivener lets me know which documents have which section types. When you click on a section layout, the contents that are assigned this are highlighted in yellow. Notice also that the section types are shown in the contents pane.

section layout

Happy with my progress so far, I put this aside. I need a break, to come back to it fresh and see what else might need fixing. That’ll be revealed in next week’s post.

Questions? Need a helping hand? Want a demo?

To watch me demonstrating how to assign layout styles or to ask any questions, book a Simply Scrivener Special.

To help me to prepare, you could also complete this short questionnaire.

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