How to Set Margins Using Open Office

Margins are important on a document because they set the boundaries for your page. Different types of documents may require different sized margins. Knowing how to change your margin size is also important when a certain industry, like publishing, requires specific set margins. If you are using Open Office, learning how to set or change margins on a document is easy.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Open your Open Office software to a new document. A blank page should appear.

2. Click on the “Format” tab at the top of the screen. A drop down list will appear.

3. Scroll down to where it says “Page.” Click on that choice. This will make a pop up box appear.

4. Find where it says “Margins” in the lower left hand side of the pop up box.

5. Highlight each of the four measurements and manually type in the measurements that you would like to change them to, or use the scroll arrows on the right to go up or down with your measurement.

6. Click on “OK” to set your margins. The "OK" button is at the bottom of the pop up box.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also change the margins on an existing text document. Open any document that you have already written and proceed with the steps to change your margins. There is no need to highlight text.
• You don't need to type in the inch symbol when setting your margins. The program will do this for you automatically.
• When submitting a document to any industry, check to see if they have specific requirements for their margins.

Resources

• Open Office