🚀 go-pugleaf

I'll tell you how it's different, and then you can decide whether it's "better". :-)

The issue that's been reported to me is large rotated tables that span multiple pages. By placing MasterPage markers every several rows in the table, Master Page Tools can apply the correct master page, even when the pagination of the document changes. That's the big issue with applying master pages--the content shifts, but the master pages don't. Since the MasterPage markers always move with the content, the master pages applied will always be correct. I don't have to worry about setting up ranges for each table or large graphic.

Also, the MasterPage markers are nice because you don't need to create any additional formats in your documents. The markers just sit there quietly, out of the way.

Overall, I'm confused by how they implemented Master Page support in Frame 7. They seem to use a multi-pass, sort of bottom-up approach. That's confusing to me.

The approach I've used is that the plug-in must start from the beginning of the document, and it must get the master pages applied correctly in a single pass. That's essential, because applying master pages often affect pagination. It's OK to impact pagination later in the document, because those pages haven't been processed yet. If the pagination is impacted earlier in a document, I'm not sure how that's ever going to work. How would you know when you were finished apply master pages?

I think my "one-pass" approach is easier to understand, set up, and more likely to achieve predictable results.

...and it's shareware, so if you try it and don't like it, it doesn't cost you anything but a little time.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the question.

Steve