Two-column page with unequal columns.

[Jim]

I've inserted a section break into a normal single-column .doc and inserted
some text in two columns. Then there's another section break and back to a
single-column format. Trouble is, Word automatically decides where to break
the 2-column layout, so that both columns are the same length. What I want
to do is fill up the first column, have it spill into the second with what's
left over and then hold still, even if the second column is only a short bit.

I can insert a manual column break, but this has to be between paragraphs.
(If you simply put a break in the middle of a paragraph, Word makes two
paragraphs out of it.) If the last paragraph in the left column is long, I'd
like to have it fill the first column and just spill over. Any way to do
this easily?

 

[Jay Freedman]

I've inserted a section break into a normal single-column .doc and
inserted some text in two columns. Then there's another section
break and back to a single-column format. Trouble is, Word
automatically decides where to break the 2-column layout, so that
both columns are the same length. What I want to do is fill up the
first column, have it spill into the second with what's left over and
then hold still, even if the second column is only a short bit.

I can insert a manual column break, but this has to be between
paragraphs. (If you simply put a break in the middle of a paragraph,
Word makes two paragraphs out of it.) If the last paragraph in the
left column is long, I'd like to have it fill the first column and
just spill over. Any way to do this easily?

There is an option that controls this, but it takes effect for the whole
document -- that is, if you have more than one two-column section, you can't
have one balanced and another not balanced.

In Word 2003 or earlier, go to Tools > Options > Compatibility and check the
box for "Don't balance columns for Continuous section starts".

In Word 2007, Go to Office button > Word Options > Advanced, scroll all the
way to the bottom and click Layout Options, and check the box for the same
option as above.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Jim]

Thanks, Jay;

I suppose the option change 'sticks' with the installation of Word, not just
the document. Thus if my 'unblanced' .doc is opened on another computer, the
columns will be balanced? Rather than 'buck the system,' I think I'll just
break columns manually where I can. There's always a way to split a
paragraph into two by adding some unnecessary words.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

No, fortunately Compatibility Options are saved with the document. This
means that they (a) travel with the document and (b) don't apply to any
other documents (unless you make them the default).

 

[Jim]

Thank goodness for that. Thanks for the clarification.