Only writing in the right-hand column from page-to-page

[rorybenomalley]

This is a style of page layout that I saw many times in textbooks.

I'm trying to write a report, with a small reference column that runs down
the left hand side of the page, about 2 inches wide (the bulk text being on
the right).

One way of doing this is to create a 2-column page layout, then insert a
column break at the start of every page in the left-hand "reference" column,
then start my text in the right hand side. What I really want to do is be
able to start in the right hand column, and when the page is full, be able to
continue onto the next page, straight into the right hand column, rather than
have to manually put in column breaks (if I go back and add anything in for
instance, my breaks are in the wrong place).

The other thing is that I'll always want my references, wherever I put them,
to align vertically with the part of bulk text on the right. With different
font sizes for titles etc in the right, hitting enter a few times doesn't
always align the left- and right- hand lines of text, which is a pain.

Is this possible...?

Thanks for your help,
Rory

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

For another approach, see
http://sbarnhill.mvps.org/WordFAQs/MarginalText.htm