A 60-page document needs more than one way to look at it. The View tab in RixDocs offers four working views, a print preview, split panes, zoom, a heading-driven navigation pane and a dark canvas — all rendering the same document, each tuned to a different job.
The four working views
| View | What it shows | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Print Layout | Exact pages with margins, headers, footers and breaks | Default writing and layout work |
| Web Layout | Continuous flow without page boundaries | Drafting long text, on-screen reading |
| Outline | Document as a heading tree you can drag to restructure | Reorganizing reports and books |
| Read Mode | Comfortable, distraction-free reading | Reviewing a finished draft |
Switch any time from the View tab; the document is untouched — only the lens changes. Outline view deserves special mention: drag a Heading 1 and everything beneath it moves too, which turns the dreaded "restructure chapter 3" into a two-second gesture. It only works if your headings use real heading styles, one more reason to skip fake bold titles.
The navigation pane
The navigation pane is the fastest way through a long document:
- Open the View tab and enable the navigation pane.
- The pane lists every heading as a clickable outline.
- Click any entry to jump there instantly.
It stays docked beside the text, and it is the natural companion to a table of contents: the TOC serves the reader of the finished document, the navigation pane serves you while writing it.
Split view and zoom
Split view divides the window into two independently scrolling panes over the same document:
- Cross-reference a table while writing the analysis below it.
- Keep the track-changes summary in view while editing a section.
- Compare the introduction against the conclusion for consistency.
Zoom adjusts magnification per pane — zoom out for page-flow judgment, zoom in for detailed table work. The status bar shows the current level and the live word count.
Page Preview before you commit
Page Preview renders the document exactly as printing or PDF export will: every break, every header, every margin. Make it a ritual — preview before any print or export — and "why is section 4 starting mid-page" surprises disappear.
Dark canvas for late sessions
Dark mode across Rixoffice extends into the editor with dark canvas: the page surface darkens along with the interface, easing eye strain in evening writing sessions. Two things stay true regardless of canvas color: the file saves with its real colors, and printed or PDF output is unaffected — dark canvas is a viewing preference, not a document property.
A setup that works
For serious long-document sessions: Print Layout, navigation pane open, split view when cross-referencing, dark canvas at night, Page Preview before every export. That combination covers planning, writing, revising and delivery without leaving the View tab.
What to explore next
- Text formatting and styles — heading styles power Outline and navigation.
- Footnotes, citations and TOC for the reader-facing map.
- Export, PDF and printing to put Page Preview to work.