No space between paragraphs of same style

[Mr. Harrison]

Perhaps this is a stupid question, but is it possible to specify that there be no space between paragraphs of the same style, so that only the last paragraph includes a space below it? What I want is something like this:

This is the first pararaph. It uses paragraph style 1. It has an indent but no space below it.
This is the second paragraph. It also uses paragraph style 1. It's the last paragraph that uses this style, so it has a space below it.

This is paragraph style 2.
This is also paragraph style 2.

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Does this make sense? Can this be done, or do I have to create a 'spacer' paragraph style to put between these?

Thanks

[YODA]

With Libreoffice this can be done I am not sure about OpenOffice.

[Zizi64]

Yes, there is an option for this task in my LO 6.1.2 version (and in the older LO4.4.7 portable too) - but there is not in my AOO 4.1.5 portable version.
The label of the option:
"Don't add space between paragraph of same style"

[John_Ha]

1. Define two paragraph styles: one with no gap; and one with a gap.
2. Write all in the no gap style.
3. Apply the gap style to the required paragraphs.

Or write everything in "no-gap" style. Place the cursor in the last paragraph and Format > Paragraph > Indents and spacings ..., and set a gap. If you record it as a macro you can put it as an icon on the toolbar and just click it so adding a gap is a one click operation. Also have a macro to remove the gap so you can easily add or remove gaps as required.

Set a style "gap paragraph" and add an empty paragraph for the gap.

You could also use line returns (shift+enter) for the no gap paragraphs but beware - there is a maximum of words in an AOO paragraph.

[RoryOF]

Or simpler: enter an empty paragraph.

[Mr. Harrison]

Thanks for the replies. While the workarounds are possible, they aren't satisfactory. So you can create an empty paragraph to act as a spacer, which means creating another style. Also how to define the height of that paragraph? It would have to be the height of its text plus spacing, right?

Applying another style to the last paragraph only is also annoying because again it means a manual procedure.

I've switched to Libre office for this project at least, which does have this option.

[RoryOF]

Thanks for the replies. While the workarounds are possible, they aren't satisfactory. So you can create an empty paragraph to act as a spacer, which means creating another style. Also how to define the height of that paragraph? It would have to be the height of its text plus spacing, right?

Applying another style to the last paragraph only is also annoying because again it means a manual procedure.

I've switched to Libre office for this project at least, which does have this option.

If, after finishing your sequence of Paragraph 1, you just press Enter, the blank paragraph generated will have the same above/below paragraph spacing as the other Paragraph 1 styles, as it will, by default, be a Paragraph 1 style. Turn on /View /non printing characters to see its placeholder (same command turns this display off)

If you define it to be a different paragraph style you can set any spacing parameters you require.

[ardovm]

Hello,

FWIW there is an open bug report (since 2004) to request this feature:
https://bz.apache.org/ooo/show_bug.cgi?id=34199

[Zizi64]

ardovm, install the LibreOffice if you need this feature definitely.

[keme]

If you must use Apache OpenOffice (LibreOffice is not an option, for some reason) and you need this feature, there is a sensible workaround using invisible paragraph borders:
Add a border where you need extra spacing (above/below) and use border width to adjust the spacing. Set the border color to the same as page background color (white in most cases), and tick "Merge with next paragraph".
Preferably make a style with this formatting.

Issues:
This doesn't work well with variable indents (like multilevel lists), and it may mess up the display of images and background features.