ID: q180917
The information in this article applies to:
This article describes the types of section breaks available in Word and their uses. When you start a document, there are no section breaks because the entire document consists of one section. A section break is the point at which you end one section and begin another because you want some aspect of page formatting to change. You can divide a document into any number of sections and format each section the way you want. Throughout this article, keep in mind that a section break acts as an embedded code that stores or maintains the properties of the section above it.
For tips about using section breaks, refer to the "More Information" section of this article.
Section/Page properties include the following settings:
Page Orientation (Portrait/Landscape)
Margins
Columns
Line Numbering
Vertical Alignment
Headers & Footers
Page Numbering
Paper Size
Paper Source
1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences, and then click the View tab.
2. Under Nonprinting Characters, click to select ALL.
3. Click OK.
To create a new section, click the Break command on the Insert menu. In normal view, Word displays a double dotted line and the words End of Section (Type of Section Break) to indicate a section break and its type.
The line is not printed. There are several types of section breaks to choose from. The breaks and their purposes are described as follows.
Type Characteristics
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Page Word breaks the page at the section break. The new
section starts on the next page.
Use this section break if you want to apply different
page numbers, headers and footers, orientation,
vertical alignment, or paper size to the sections in
the document.
Continuous Word inserts a section break and begins the new section
on the same page. If the two sections have different
settings for page size or orientation, the new section
begins a new page even if you select Continuous.
Use this section break if you want to have different
column formatting or margins on the same page. If there
are multiple columns in the previous section, Word
balances the columns above the section break and then
fills out the page with the new section.
Odd Page Word begins the new section on the next odd-numbered
page. This section break is often used for chapters that
begin on odd-numbered pages.
NOTE: If the section break falls on an odd-numbered
page, Word leaves the intervening even-numbered page
blank.
Even Page Similar to Odd Page, but Word begins the new section on
the next even-numbered page.
1. Click at the point where you want to start a new section.
2. On the Insert menu, click Break.
3. Under Section Breaks, select the option that describes what type of
section break you want, as described above.
In Word, the type of section break is shown on your screen in parentheses, after the words Section Break. This is not where the properties of that section break are stored. The properties for the type of section break indicated on the screen are stored in the next section break (which may have a different type of section break indicated). If there is no additional section break in your document, the properties for that section break are stored in the last paragraph mark of the document. The section breaks act as an embedded code that stores or maintains the properties of the section above it.
For example, if you have a one-page document and half-way down the page, you insert an Odd Page section break and farther into your document, on Page 1, you insert a Next Page section break, in normal view, you see the following:
Section Break (Odd Page)
Section Break (Next Page)
If you place your insertion point between Section Break (Odd Page) and Section Break (Next Page), the Status Bar will show Page 3 Sec 2. To see the actual properties for the second section, on the Format menu, click Document and then click the Layout tab. Under Section Start, it will indicate that the section is Odd Page. The settings for this section break are stored in the section break below where your insertion point is located or as shown on the screen, Section Break (Next Page).
If you place your insertion point below Section Break (Next Page), the Status Bar will show: Page 4 Sec 3. To see the actual properties for the third section, on the Format menu, click Document and then click the Layout tab. Under Section Start, it will indicate that the section is New Page. The settings for this section break are stored in the last paragraph mark of the document (since there are no more section breaks in the document
NOTE: A section break indicated on your screen as Next Page will be defined as New Page on the Layout tab of the Document dialog box.
For information about deleting a section break, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q180273
TITLE : WD98: What Happens When You Delete a Section Break
You can save a section break and the formatting it contains as an AutoText entry for future use.
You can copy section formatting by copying the section break in normal view. When you paste a section break into a new location, the text above the section break takes on the formatting contained in the section break.
For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q176314
TITLE : WD: Section Layout Formatting Changes Pasting Section Break
1. Place the insertion point into the section that you want to change.
Note: Remember to place your insertion point BELOW the section break
That you want to change.
3. Click the Layout tab.
4. Under Section Start, select the type of section you want and then
click OK.
ARTICLE-ID: Q77233
TITLE : Continuous Section Breaks Become New Page Breaks in
Landscape
Keywords : macword98 kblayout
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowtoLast Reviewed: May 10, 1999