Re: Column typing.

On Wed, 5 Oct 2005, Keith Powell wrote:

> Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 13:44:08 +0100
> From: Keith Powell <keith@keithg4jvx.force9.co.uk>
> To: abiword-user@abisource.com
> Subject: Column typing.
>
>
> Am I asking too much of Abiword 2.3.99?
>
> I would like to make up a two column document. First of all doing some typing
> in column one, then some in column two, then back to column one, then to
> column two, and so on. The start of each block of typing needs to line up
> with the block in the other column.
>
>
> For example:
>
> First block of typing I do is in Second bloc is in column two
> column one
>
> Third block is in column one Fourth block is in column two

If the blocks are about the same size you might try using a table with
hidden borders. Using a table seems like the easiest way to achieve
something close to what you want.

Floating text frames might be another thing you could try.

In the meantime I'm trying to see if I can do this and I will send a
sample document to the list if I can. The more I experiment with this the
more I get the feeling that basic columns do not allow this kind of
layout.

I was thinking I could have two columns, break and go back to one column
for a while and then have another two columns below it but I dont seem to
be able to do that.

> I can't find a way of doing this. The only column facility I can find is to
> keep typing until the first column is full and then the text carries on into
> column two. Which I don't want. Creating two columns by tabbing, is a
> non-starter as it plays havoc if the text in one of the columns has to be
> altered!
>
> If someone could either tell me how to do it, or tell me that it can't be
> done, I would be very grateful. Perhaps it needs a publishing program to
> accomplish this?
>
> Congratulations on Abiword. The hard work is paying off and it is a really
> excellent word processor.

I cannot help thinking perhaps you need more advanced layout functionality
and it might be easier if you considered giving desktop publishing
software such as Scribus a try.

But wait! I've typed all this crap so I'm sure as hell not going delete
it but I have found an answer and it is acutally dead simple.

Type your first paragraph, "Insert, Break..." then choose Column Break.
and keep inserting a Column Break after each paragraph. Tadaaa!

Took me long enough but I figured it out. Hope that helps.

Sincerely

Alan Horkan

Inkscape http://inkscape.org
Abiword http://www.abisource.com
Dia http://gnome.org/projects/dia/
Open Clip Art http://OpenClipArt.org

Alan's Diary http://advogato.org/person/AlanHorkan/

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Received on Wed Oct 5 15:09:39 2005