Creating a table in Scribus DTP (not hypnotherapy)

If you have seen some of my previous posts about Linux you'll know that I made the move from Windows to Linux quite a while ago.

Part of my work involves creating desk top published documents. In the past I used the very fine Adobe InDesign (on Windows to do this. Adobe however seem to have no inclination to produce a Linux version of their products. Indeed they have now gone down the web based subscription route with Creative Cloud.

Not for me thank you.

So I persevere with the open source DTP package Scribus. Actually this is a nice program with a lot of the facilities you need except in one area; implementing tables. It's pretty hopeless at this. If you create a Scribus table it's basically a collection of frames stitched together.

This has had me stumped for a while; but now I have a work around.

It relies on the fact that Scribus can import vector based drawings in a variety of file formats.

Here's how I do it.

1) Create your table at the finished size you want in LibreOffice Writer. Save it as a document in case you need to make changes later.

2) Make sure there is a background fill or else the borders seem to get lost in the process

3) Export the table to a PDF (I'd export to Postscript but that option does not exist on the version I use). I embed the font and unclick 'make this PDF editable in LibreOffice'

4) Now open up Inkscape the vector drawing program that is similar to Adobe Illustrator.

5) Inkscape will allow us to import (under the file menu) the newly created PDF.

6) An import box will be shown. Set the precision to high and unclick the 'Replace PDF fonts with nearest font' radio box. Leave embed images and click OK.

7) Now you have your new Inkscape drawing that should look identical to the original table.

8) Go to the file menu and 'save as' a .PS postscript file.

9) Now return to Scribus

10) Go to the file menu. Select import/Get vector file. Select the file you just created.

11) A fist icon will be shown on the screen to indicate where the vector drawing will be placed. No need to be exact you can move it around once on the page. Click to place the drawing.

12) You now have a nice clean accurately sized table on the page.

I know this seems a bit longwinded but it works, looks clean and delivers for me.

Alternatively I have seen others use the Draw package of LibreOffice to create the table. This has the advantage of being able to save the table directly in a vector file without needing the Inkscape step, however being able to accurately size table cells in Draw is harder as there is no dialog allowing you to specify cell size. (They can be dragged with the mouse).

I hope you find this useful, it has certainly enabled me to make more use of Scribus until such time as table functions are fully implemented in either version 1.5 or 1.6 (I use 1.4.1)

Time out by the coast

It's not all work here. I do take some time out (not enough though).

I recently went to West Bay (my nearest sea side location) and took this picture with the panorama camera function of my Moto G phone.

Got to say I'm pretty impressed by its capabilities. The phone does however sometimes throw a wobbly and the camera or email stops working. Normally by the time it's put that message on the screen it's working again but I have had to turn off the phone completely to reset the camera a couple of times.

Click on the image for the full picture

Self confidence is context sensitive

Those, who most of the time, are untroubled by a shortfall in their levels of self confidence can find this situation confusing...

A person who performs in front of crowd on guitar, feeling totally comfortable and in control may be the nervous wreck, wracked by self doubt when asked to dance at a family wedding.

Self confidence is context sensitive.

In other words it is not that a person is self confident, it is more that they are self confident in certain situations. (or flipped around they are not confident in some specific situations.)

This is a much more useful way to look at self confidence as the client may well have an area in their life where they feel relatively confident. It may be that their confidence is only challenged while at work or when with certain people.

 By drawing out the distinction it becomes possible for the client to understand that if they have some level of confidence in one part of their life perhaps it's possible to bring it to another part.

By understanding the distinction we can move more quickly and more effectively into the realm of therapeutic change.

The sounds of the sea shore to relax to.

I love being by the sea and I'm lucky that I can travel to my nearest beach in only half an hour. Being there helps to keep me calm and relaxed.

It's a shingle beach and so the sounds you hear are those of the waves crashing over the pebbles. Today I took some time out to record that sound. Here are 10 minutes to imagine yourself sitting by the sea shore.


It was recorded at West Bay in Dorset on 24th February 2014.

Goal settinig motivations - away from and towards motivation - Podcast

It can be tricky knowing how best to go about setting goals in your life. In this podcast I describe why goal setting is useful, why different motivations cause different outcomes and a practical way to get started.

If you have any comments please leave them below.

The hypnotherapy wakeup or outduction explained

The last few blog posts and podcasts have been about what to expect in a hypnotherapy session. This podcast covers the wake up part of a session (or is it a wakeup since you are not asleep?)


If you have any questions or comments please leave them below and I'll do my best to answer them.

Using metaphor and storytelling in hypnotherapy

This podcast discusses the use of metaphor and storytelling in the hypnotherapy situation.

For some clients (with an appropriate personality type) it can be a powerful way to approach difficult problems that perhaps the client would rather not tackle head on.

If you have any questions about this approach then do please get in touch.

How regression is used in hypnotherapy - podcast

Here is the podcast on the use of regression that I promised. There is an enormous amount that could be said about regression work but I have tried to keep it relatively simple, including the differences between Past Life and normal regression.


If you have any questions on the technique then please leave a comment on the blog.

Positive suggestion therapy - Podcast

This podcast is an explanation of the positive suggestion therapy used in a hypnotherapy session.

It explains how it can work effectively and what some of the limits may be. If you have any questions related to this then please get in touch.

Please let me know if you find this useful.

What is a hypnotic induction? - podcast

If you ever wanted to find out a little more about the process of hypnosis (especially as it relates to hypnotherapy) take a listen to this podcast.

It highlights the purpose behind the hypnotic induction and the result on the client's mind.
If you have any questions or feedback then please leave a comment. I'll be happy to answer your questions.

It's 2014; time to be kind to yourself - Podcast

It's all too easy to stumble into some New Year resolutions about changing your life but this year maybe try going about it in a different way.

Listen to the podcast below.



Have a great New Year!