Inserting Dates, Times, and Page Numbers

Inserting Dates, Times, and Page Numbers

Inserting Headers and Footers

You can add header and footer text objects using commands in the Text | Insert menu. Headers and footers are special text objects that can contain codes for the current date, current time, and page number, in addition to text you type. Canvas X Draw updates the date, time, and page number codes each time it redraws the screen.

In Publication documents, Canvas X Draw inserts headers at the top of the publication layout area (above the page margins) and footers at the bottom of the publication layout area (below the page margins). In other documents, Canvas X Draw places the header in the upper left corner of the page and the footer in the lower left corner.

Both types of objects initially span the width of the page, but you can resize and move them just like other text objects.

You can’t add headers and footers in Edit mode, press Esc to end text editing.

To Insert Header and Footer Text Objects:

Choose Text | Insert | Header or Text | Insert | FooterCanvas X Draw creates the text object, and places it in Edit mode.

Inserting Dates, Times, and Page Numbers

Insert date, time, and page number codes in header and footer text objects. Canvas X Draw will update the values for these codes each time it redraws the screen, unless the Date Stamp and Time Stamp commands are used. Canvas X Draw uses the date and time as set in the operating system.

Refer to your system documentation for information on setting the current date and time.

You can insert the current date and time in text objects, (see Text Objects); however, Canvas X Draw does not update this text since it is “stamped” into the document as regular text. You can change page number (symbol $P) and total page count (symbol $T) displayed by adding a simple formula to them.

You can apply text formatting or Type Styles, (see Working with Type Styles), to the date, time, and page codes; e.g., change fonts, type sizes, and justification, as you would apply formatting to normal text with the Text menu, Properties bar, or Type palette.

When entering the formula, remember the following:

  • The formula can contain only “+” and “-” as operators or numbers. Do not use spaces between the characters.
  • The formula may be of any length, but it must be in a formula format.

To Insert the Date, Time, or Page Number:

With a header or footer object in Edit mode, choose Text | Insert. (See Date and Time Commands and Page Numbering Commands.)

Date and Time Commands

To insert

In this type of object

Do this

Updating date code

Header or footer

Choose Insert | Date, or type $d

Date stamp

Any text object

Choose Insert | Date Stamp

Updating time code

Header or footer

Choose Insert | Time, or type $e

Time stamp

Any text object

Choose Insert | Time Stamp

Page Numbering Commands

To insert

In this type of object

Do this

Current page number

Header or footer (page count is static in normal text objects)

Choose Text | Insert | Page #, or type $p

Total page count

Header or footer (page count is static in normal text objects)

Choose Text | Insert | Total Page #, or type $t

Page # of total pages
e.g., Page 2 of 8

Header or footer (page count is static in normal text objects)

Choose Text | Insert | Page # of Total Page #, or type Page $P of $T

Page -# of total pages
e.g., Page -2 of 4

Header or footer (page count is static in normal text objects)

Choose Text | Insert | Page #+4-8 of Total Page #+4-8, or type Page $P+4-8 of $T+4-8

If you unintentionally place spaces between the page numbers and operators, the page numbering will create errors; e.g., the formula Page $P+4 -8 of $T+4 -8 would appear as Page 6 -8 of 12 -8.

See also:

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