Link Text Frames Across Pages in LibreOffice Writer

Linking text frames in LibreOffice Writer allows continuous text to automatically overflow from one frame into another, even across different pages. This feature is essential for designing multi-page newsletters, brochures, and desktop publishing layouts where text needs to navigate around graphics or span distinct columns. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step walkthrough to insert, position, and link multiple text frames throughout your document.

Step 1: Insert the Text Frames

  1. Open your document in LibreOffice Writer.
  2. Navigate to the page where you want the first text frame to appear.
  3. Go to the top menu and select Insert > Frame > Frame Interactively (or Insert > Frame > Frame… to set specific dimensions).
  4. Click and drag on the page to draw your first frame.
  5. Move to the next page (or location) and repeat the process to create the second frame (and any subsequent frames you plan to use).

There are two primary methods to connect your frames in LibreOffice Writer:

Method A: Using the Frame Toolbar

  1. Click on the border of the first frame to select it.
  2. Look at the context-sensitive toolbar (usually appears at the top or bottom) for the Link Frames icon (it resembles two overlapping rectangles connected by a chain).
  3. Click the Link Frames icon. Your cursor will change to a link pointer.
  4. Click inside the second frame to establish the connection.

Method B: Using Frame Properties

  1. Right-click the border of the first frame and select Properties… (or Frame depending on your LibreOffice version).
  2. In the Frame dialog box, click on the Options tab.
  3. Locate the Link section at the bottom of the tab.
  4. In the Next link drop-down menu, select the name of the second frame (e.g., Frame2).
  5. Click OK to apply the link.

Step 3: Verify the Text Flow

  1. Click inside the first frame and begin typing or paste your content.
  2. As soon as the text exceeds the boundary of the first frame, it will automatically continue into the linked second frame across the page.
  3. Repeat the linking process for additional frames if your text needs to flow across three or more pages.

If you need to break the connection between frames:

  1. Select the source frame.
  2. Click the Unlink Frames icon on the Frame toolbar, or return to the Options tab in the frame’s Properties dialog and set the Next link field to (none).
  3. Click OK. Any overflowing text will retreat back into the first frame as hidden overflow.