Use the MediaOS Flat Plan to visually manage your print issue layout, from ad and content placement to detailed page settings and production status.
Understanding the Flat Plan Interface #
The MediaOS Flat Plan is divided into three key functional areas: the Top Navigation Bar, the Ads, Content, and Info Panel, and the Flat Plan Workspace. Each area plays a distinct role in building and managing your publication layout.
Top Navigation Bar #
At the top of the Flat Plan interface, the navigation bar gives you control over how you view and interact with your publication. You can use the + / - buttons in the top-left corner to zoom in or out of the flat plan for a closer or broader view of your pages. The View Options menu (
The Pin button lets you show or hide unassigned placeholders, while the Hide/Show Content, Hide/Show Line Items, and Hide/Show Ad Images buttons give you granular control over which elements appear in your view. If you'd like to make ad line items transparent for easier planning, use the Make Line Items Transparent option.
When managing multiple pages, you can select a range using Shift + Click, and then use the Swap icon to switch their order. The Files button allows you to upload issue-specific or publication-wide files. Once you’ve selected your file type and uploaded your assets, click Close to return to the flat plan. You can also quickly jump between issues using the Product and Issue selector located at the top of the screen.
Ads, Content, and Info Panel #
Located on the right-hand side of the screen, this panel contains all the line items and editorial content booked for your selected issue. You can also manage key publication settings from this space.
In the Ads tab, you'll find all line items booked for the current issue. Use the Filter dropdowns to refine the view based on section, unit/size, or pipeline status. For each ad, you’ll see the advertiser name, ad size, assigned creative, and pipeline status. Hover over the advertiser’s name to reveal account details, or click the ad itself to open the Ad Library and assign a creative file. You can also use the Place button to drop the ad onto a page in the flat plan, and the system will automatically match the placeholder size based on the ad unit.
Switching to the Content tab allows you to view all editorial items booked for the issue. Click + New Content to create a new content record. Each article entry shows the name, word count, and total page count. You can assign a content item to a pipeline using the Pipeline dropdown.
The Info tab allows you to configure global settings for your issue. Use the Page Number Offset field to adjust your page numbering (for example, offsetting the front cover). This tab also gives you a quick summary of the number of ads, content pages, placeholders, and total pages in the issue.
Flat Plan Workspace #
The Flat Plan Workspace is where you visually manage page layouts. Click on any page to open the Page Details View, where you can update the page’s status, name, assigned user, and section. You can also indicate whether the page includes inserts or blow-ins, enter production notes, and view or manage assigned assets.
Assets already placed on a page—ads or content—can be previewed by clicking the associated thumbnail. If the asset is editorial, clicking the content name will open the Content Details Panel. You can unassign assets from this view, which will move them back to the Ads or Content tab.
In the Page Files tab, you can upload files related to that specific page, such as high-res proofs or production-ready PDFs. Along the bottom of the Page Details View, several buttons give you additional functionality. Use Close to exit the page, Upload Finished Design to upload final artwork, or Clear Finished Design to remove a file. Use Cut to move the page to another location in your layout, or click Delete Page to remove it entirely—just be sure no active assets are assigned before deleting.
General Navigation Shortcuts #
To manage multiple pages, hold Shift and click on the pages you want to select. Once selected, you can use the Cut and Paste tools in the top navigation to move them as a group. To add new pages, hover your mouse at the beginning or end of the flat plan and click the Add Pages button when it appears. You can also draw new placeholders directly onto blank pages by clicking and dragging to the desired size.
