How to Make a Trifold Brochure in MS Works or OpenOffice
By Lynn Burbeck
Word processing programs such as Microsoft Works and Open Office Writer giver users the ability to create custom brochures. Although a variety of templates are available for both program, neither has a pre-built template for tri-fold brochures. Because of the similarity between the two programs, the process of creating a tri-fold brochure is essentially the same, regardless of which program you're using. If you use tri-fold brochures often, you can save your brochure as a template for future use.
Creating a Tri-Fold Brochure in Microsoft Works
Step 1
Open a new document in Microsoft Works on your computer.
Step 2
Go to "File," and scroll down to "Page Setup" to open the Page Setup window. Click on the "Size and Orientation" tab and change the orientation to Landscape.
Step 3
Go to the "Format" menu, scroll down to "Columns" and select "Format Columns" to increase the number of columns to three. If desired, you can alter the amount of space between each column or add lines between the columns in this window.
Step 4
Move the cursor down the page of your brochure by clicking the "Enter" key repeatedly. Your goal is to add a second page to your document, which will be the backside of your brochure.
Step 5
Add text and photos to each column to create your brochure. If you aren't sure which columns you should place the text and photos in, number each column and print out a template to work off of before adding the actual text and photos.
Step 6
Go to the "File" menu, select "Print" and click "Properties" to create a double-sided print job. To print on both sides of a single piece of paper, select the "Finishing" tab in the Properties window and select "Print On Both Sides".
Step 7
Select "Print" to print the document on your printer. Review the brochure for typos and formatting before printing duplicate copies.
Creating a Tri-Fold Brochure in Open Office
Step 1
Open the Open Office Writer program on your computer and start a new document.
Step 2
Click on the "Format" menu and select "Page."
Step 3
Select "Page" from the "Page Style" display window to change the orientation from Portrait to Landscape. Then, click on the "Columns" tab to change the number of columns from one to three. While you're on the "Columns" tab, you can also add a separator line between columns or adjust the width and spacing between columns. Click the "OK" button when finished.
Step 4
Press the "Enter" button repeatedly until the cursor reaches the end of the third column and a second page appears. You'll need both pages to create your tri-fold brochure -- one page for the front and the other for the back.
Step 5
Add your text and photos to the brochure, being careful to place the data in the correct columns. A paper template can be helpful for determining where the parts of the brochure should go.
Step 6
Click on "File" and "Printer Setup" when you've completed your tri-fold brochure. In the "Properties" menu, click on the "Finishing" tab to select the option to "Print On Both Sides." Click "OK" to save your changes and print the document.
Writer Bio
Lynn Burbeck is a professional writer with over five years of experience writing for the Web. She has published numerous articles for print and online media including "Grit" Magazine. Burbeck holds a B.A. in journalism and political science.