Variable Sections & Page Layouts

In real-world business documents, a single uniform page format is rarely sufficient. A single enterprise deliverable often starts with a full-bleed portrait cover page, continues with standard portrait text columns for an executive summary, transitions to an extra-wide landscape spread for financial tables and Gantt charts, and concludes with an appendix section with custom margins.

ComposeIt supports Variable Sections, allowing you to combine completely distinct page formats, orientations, and margins within a single output PDF.

Anatomy of a Multi-Section Document

A Section in ComposeIt represents an isolated page layout container with its own geometry and margins rules.

Adding and Managing Sections

To manage sections in the template:

1. Locate the Sections Manager at the left toolbar of the ComposeIt Editor canvas.
2. Click + Add Section to append a new page container.
3. Select any section tab to inspect and to edit its layout properties open the modal using the ... and Settings.

Section Controls

• Duplicate Section: Clone an existing section with all its geometry, headers, footers, and styling rules intact.
• Rename Section: Give each section a clear semantic label (e.g., Cover Page, Financials (Landscape), Terms & Conditions).
• Delete Section: Remove a section and all child elements from the canvas.

Configuring Page Formats & Sizes

Each section can be assigned its own distinct paper format. You are never locked to a global document size.

Custom Width and Height

For specialized print media (such as packing slips, shelf tags, custom certificates, or thermal receipts), select Custom from the format dropdown and enter exact width and height values in your preferred unit (mm, cm, in, or pt).

Mixed Orientations in a Single PDF

A major strength of ComposeIt is the ability to intermix Portrait and Landscape orientations seamlessly within the same document flow.

Example Workflow: Enterprise Proposal

1. Section 1: Cover Page
   • Format: A4
   • Orientation: Portrait
   • Margins: 0 mm (Full Bleed hero image and title typography)
2. Section 2: Executive Summary
   • Format: A4
   • Orientation: Portrait
   • Margins: 25 mm Top/Bottom, 20 mm Left/Right
3. Section 3: Financial Projections & 24-Month Roadmap
   • Format: A4
   • Orientation: Landscape (297 × 210 mm)
   • Margins: 15 mm on all sides
   • Accommodates a 14-column financial model table and horizontal Chart.js bar graph without clipping.
4. Section 4: Master Services Agreement & Signatures
   • Format: A4
   • Orientation: Portrait
   • Standard 2-column legal terms with signature block.

Independent Margin Overrides

Margins define the printable safety area of the section, separating running headers and footers from the core page body content.

In the Section Traits inspector, you can customize all four margins independently:

Section Margins
├── Top Margin:     20mm
├── Right Margin:   15mm
├── Bottom Margin:  25mm
└── Left Margin:    15mm

Full-Bleed Sections (0mm Margin)

For eye-catching covers, catalog dividers, or marketing flyers, set all margins to 0mm. This allows background graphics, full-width gradient banners, and imagery to extend to the physical page edges without any white borders.

Asymmetric Margins for Binding (Gutters)

If your document will be physically printed and bound (e.g. spiral binding, saddle stitch, or comb binding), configure asymmetric margins:

• Set Left Margin to 28mm (Gutter space for holes/staples)
• Set Right Margin to 16mm
• Set Top & Bottom to 20mm

Next Steps

• Implement dynamic running headers, footers, and page numbers: Headers, Footers & Page Numbers
• Review data binding and nested collection rules: Data Access & Collections