So far, Words is pretty good, except when I tried something like create a template with a background image so I would have a useful template.

So here is what I did in Words. I have a jpeg image which I would like to be the background of my Words documents.

The following was done through trial and error.

1) I create a header
2) I choose an image shape, choose the JPEG and draw my box
3) Under Properties>>General for the shape I choose If frame Overflows>> Do not show extra text and When Creating a page>>Copy this Frame and check "Only on odd/even pages" so it will appear on all pages.
4) I stretch the image to cover the entire page
5) On text Runaround I select "Run through this shape"
6) On Basic Shape Manipulation I send the shape (i.e. the JPEG) to the back, and my text box appears.

I am able to edit text etc. But if I open either a blank document with this formatting, or open the template doc as a new document, I do not see my text when I type it, though the cursor moves.

Ultimately, I would like to be able to see/use the headers/footers too,

What am I doing wrong?

FWIW, the document works on Libre Office.