Learning Objectives

  • Set A4 margins, orientation, and page size used in PRC 110 reports
  • Control indents and paragraph spacing with Styles where possible
  • Insert page breaks vs section breaks for the right job
  • Build multi-section documents (portrait + landscape, different headers)

PRC 110 Lab Report Defaults

Setting Value
Paper A4
Margins Top/Bottom 1”, Left 1.25”, Right 1”
Orientation Portrait (landscape only for wide tables)
Line spacing 1.5
Spacing after 6 pt
Body alignment Justified

Apply via Layout → Margins / Orientation / Size and Paragraph settings (or Normal style).

1) Margins, Orientation, Size

  1. Layout → Margins → Custom Margins for the lab-report values above.
  2. Orientation: Portrait for narrative; Landscape for wide screenshots/tables.
  3. Size: A4 for PU submissions (avoid Letter unless asked).

Always check File → Print → Print Preview before exporting.

2) Indents and Spacing

  1. Select body text → Paragraph dialog.
  2. First-line indent 0.5” for academic paragraphs (optional for business letters).
  3. Line spacing 1.5; Spacing After 6 pt.
  4. Prefer modifying Normal / Heading styles over one-off manual tweaks so the TOC stays reliable.

3) Page Breaks vs Section Breaks

Break Use when
Page Break (Ctrl+Enter) Start a new page but keep the same headers/margins
Section Break (Next Page) Change orientation, margins, or header/footer rules
Section Break (Continuous) Multi-column segment mid-page

Insert → Breaks (Layout → Breaks).

4) Multi-Section Documents

Example structure:

  1. Cover — section 1, Different First Page, no page numbers
  2. Body — portrait, header with course name
  3. Appendix — new section, landscape, restart or continue numbering

Unlink headers: In header edit mode, turn off Link to Previous before changing section 2’s header.

Page numbers: Insert → Page Number → Format Page Numbers (start at 1 after the cover if required).

Practice Task

Create a 5-page document with:

  • Custom PRC 110 margins on the body section
  • Cover without header/footer
  • One landscape appendix section for a wide table
  • Distinct headers per section
  • Page numbers that skip the cover

📚 Continue to: Advanced Features