LibreOffice questions

[daryen]

Instead of sidetracking some other discussion, I'm creating this separate topic where I (or anyone) can ask specific LibreOffice questions.

Here's my first question in this topic. I am trying to insert pictures into a document. In the section I am trying to insert the picture, I have two columns set up. So, I put the cursor where I want the picture to go, then click on Insert->Image... After doing that LO basically places the image in a random location on my page and then locks it into that spot. Which, obviously, is totally useless.

How do I insert an image where I actually want it to go?

Better yet, how do I insert an image and just let it flow with the text? I really don't want to lock the image anywhere; I want it to effectively function as a single really big character and then move with the text. If I insert something above it, it should move down. How do I do that?

[Solomoriah]

Images are tricky until you understand them.

Right-click the misplaced image and choose Properties. The Type tab has position controls which you can use to make the image go where you want it. For two-column purposes, Horizontal: Center to Paragraph Area, Vertical: Top to Paragraph Text Area or Vertical: Bottom to Paragraph Text Area are likely to be what you want. Then go to the Wrap tab and put in any extra space you need at the top or bottom.

Often I position an image at the top or bottom of a column using Vertical: Top (or Bottom) to Page Text Area. The bottom position works well for monster entries where most of the monster's text description is in one column; I position the text cursor in an early paragraph before inserting the image. Sometimes I do the same thing using a later (lower) paragraph that has flowed to the next column and then use the Top variant.

ALL of this is FINAL formatting. No matter what you do here, if it's a print-track document I'll probably change it later in the production process. Possibly several times, as I hammer out the flow and formatting issues.

Finally, you can choose to right-click a new image and Anchor it As Character, so that it behaves like a letter or number in the text. Put the image by itself in a paragraph and it flows along with the text. This is actually not my preferred final formatting but it works really well early in the development process before the flow becomes an issue.

[daryen]

Thanks! I'll give these a try.

And right now, this is just for my Player Compendium, which means you'll likely never touch it.

However, I am going to need it for other efforts, so I will keep that in mind.