How to Manage Multi-Page Documents in CorelDRAW

Managing multi-page documents in CorelDRAW requires understanding page creation, navigation, layout controls, and layer management. This guide covers how to insert and organize pages, utilize the Pages docker, set independent page orientations, and work with Master Pages to create consistent, multi-page layouts such as brochures, booklets, and catalogs.

Adding, Renaming, and Deleting Pages

At the bottom of the document window, the document navigator provides basic page controls.

  • Insert Pages: Click the + icon next to the page tabs, or right-click an existing tab and select Insert Page After or Insert Page Before. You can also go to Layout > Insert Page to add multiple pages at once.
  • Rename Pages: Right-click a page tab and select Rename Page, then enter your desired label.
  • Delete Pages: Right-click the tab and choose Delete Page, or go to Layout > Delete Page.

Using the Pages Docker

For complex documents, the Pages docker (or inspector) offers an efficient bird's-eye view.

  1. Open the docker by going to Window > Dockers > Pages (or Layout > Pages).
  2. Switch between Grid View (to see thumbnails of all pages) and List View (for a compact list).
  3. Rearrange pages simply by dragging and dropping the thumbnails into your preferred sequence.
  4. Duplicate pages by right-clicking a thumbnail and selecting Duplicate Page, choosing whether to copy layers, contents, or both.

Setting Individual Page Sizes and Orientations

By default, changing the page orientation or size affects all pages in the document. To set different dimensions for specific pages:

  1. Select the page you want to alter.
  2. Look at the Property Bar at the top of the workspace.
  3. Click the Current page icon (a single page graphic) instead of the All pages icon.
  4. Change the page dimensions or orientation (Portrait/Landscape) as needed. Only the active page will update.

Working with Master Layers

To repeat background elements, page numbers, or headers across every page, use the Objects docker:

  1. Go to Window > Dockers > Objects.
  2. Locate the Master Page section at the bottom of the layer stack.
  3. Place graphics, guides, or text onto the Desktop, Guides, or a custom layer inside the Master Page.
  4. Elements placed on the Master Page automatically appear across all pages. You can toggle visibility, editability, and printability for these shared elements directly within the docker.

Inserting Dynamic Page Numbers

  1. Go to Layout > Page Number Settings to define your numbering style and starting digit.
  2. Select Layout > Insert Page Number > On All Pages (or On All Active/Odd/Even Pages).
  3. CorelDRAW creates a dynamic text object on the Master Page that updates automatically as pages are added, deleted, or rearranged.

Use the page controls at the bottom-left to jump directly between pages, or press Page Up and Page Down on your keyboard. When outputting the finished document, go to File > Publish to PDF, select your export preset, and ensure the export range is set to Document or a specific range of pages under the Settings menu.