I am considering using newspaper columns (3 columns per page) to format a
long catalog document. This document will end up being about 150 pages long.
The reason I want to use newspaper columns is that it allows me to lengthen
or shorted a column on a page without affecting other columns on that page...
so that I can leave space for a graphic to be pasted onto the copy before
going to print for example, with the text flowing to the next page
automatically. It also allows me to keep the columns relatively aligned at
the bottom of the page without having to column break each column one at a
time. (I'm not sure if I am explaining this very well).
Anyway, apparently in order to do a long document with newpaper columns, I
would have to set up all the pages ahead of time, each with 3 identical text
box columns in exactly the same place on each page.
Is there a way to automate creation of all the pages I will need, placement
of the three identical text box columns, and the text box linkages from one
text box to the next so that I don't have to struggle with this through 150
pages?
What I want to end up with is a document that looks for all intents and
purposes like it was simply formatted with 3 columns of equal width...

One final question: If I use newspaper columns with text boxes, can I still
use bookmark references using Headings styles in my document to create my
headers (dictionary style)? Each chapter in the document has its own
header/footer and I've always done this before using bookmark references. I
just haven't tried it when the text is within a text box.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE!

Diana Bodell

You were okay as long as you were talking about newspaper-style columns.
When you start talking about putting text boxes in those columns, you're
running off the rails. To begin with, Word will not let you link more than
32 text boxes. But the main problem is that you're setting yourself up for a
formatting nightmare. If you don't really want these columns to snake, you
might be happier using a three-column table.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"DBodell" wrote in message
...
I am considering using newspaper columns (3 columns per page) to format a
long catalog document. This document will end up being about 150 pages
long.
The reason I want to use newspaper columns is that it allows me to
lengthen
or shorted a column on a page without affecting other columns on that
page...
so that I can leave space for a graphic to be pasted onto the copy before
going to print for example, with the text flowing to the next page
automatically. It also allows me to keep the columns relatively aligned at
the bottom of the page without having to column break each column one at a
time. (I'm not sure if I am explaining this very well).
Anyway, apparently in order to do a long document with newpaper columns, I
would have to set up all the pages ahead of time, each with 3 identical
text
box columns in exactly the same place on each page.
Is there a way to automate creation of all the pages I will need,
placement
of the three identical text box columns, and the text box linkages from
one
text box to the next so that I don't have to struggle with this through
150
pages?
What I want to end up with is a document that looks for all intents and
purposes like it was simply formatted with 3 columns of equal width...

One final question: If I use newspaper columns with text boxes, can I
still
use bookmark references using Headings styles in my document to create my
headers (dictionary style)? Each chapter in the document has its own
header/footer and I've always done this before using bookmark references.
I
just haven't tried it when the text is within a text box.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE!

Diana Bodell

Thanks, Suzanne!!! You've saved me a nightmare! Now, if I used tables, would
I be able to flow the text from one column to the next? The ultimate would be
if Word were able to do automatic "leading" or justifying a column top and
bottom. Is there a way to do that?
I must say that you and your MVP colleagues are a tremendous help to those
of us doing more complex work where the standard help text really doesn't cut
it. It is nice to talk to a person.
Diana


"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:

You were okay as long as you were talking about newspaper-style columns.
When you start talking about putting text boxes in those columns, you're
running off the rails. To begin with, Word will not let you link more than
32 text boxes. But the main problem is that you're setting yourself up for a
formatting nightmare. If you don't really want these columns to snake, you
might be happier using a three-column table.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"DBodell" wrote in message
...
I am considering using newspaper columns (3 columns per page) to format a
long catalog document. This document will end up being about 150 pages
long.
The reason I want to use newspaper columns is that it allows me to
lengthen
or shorted a column on a page without affecting other columns on that
page...
so that I can leave space for a graphic to be pasted onto the copy before
going to print for example, with the text flowing to the next page
automatically. It also allows me to keep the columns relatively aligned at
the bottom of the page without having to column break each column one at a
time. (I'm not sure if I am explaining this very well).
Anyway, apparently in order to do a long document with newpaper columns, I
would have to set up all the pages ahead of time, each with 3 identical
text
box columns in exactly the same place on each page.
Is there a way to automate creation of all the pages I will need,
placement
of the three identical text box columns, and the text box linkages from
one
text box to the next so that I don't have to struggle with this through
150
pages?
What I want to end up with is a document that looks for all intents and
purposes like it was simply formatted with 3 columns of equal width...

One final question: If I use newspaper columns with text boxes, can I
still
use bookmark references using Headings styles in my document to create my
headers (dictionary style)? Each chapter in the document has its own
header/footer and I've always done this before using bookmark references.
I
just haven't tried it when the text is within a text box.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE!

Diana Bodell

Text in a table stays in its own column from one page to the next, so no, it
will not flow from one column to an adjacent one. You can try setting the
vertical alignment of the page to Justified (Layout tab of Page Setup), but
I'll be surprised if you're happy with the results (especially in columns);
I have yet to find a situation where I preferred that to my own manual
tweaking.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"DBodell" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Suzanne!!! You've saved me a nightmare! Now, if I used tables,
would
I be able to flow the text from one column to the next? The ultimate would
be
if Word were able to do automatic "leading" or justifying a column top and
bottom. Is there a way to do that?
I must say that you and your MVP colleagues are a tremendous help to those
of us doing more complex work where the standard help text really doesn't
cut
it. It is nice to talk to a person.
Diana


"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:

You were okay as long as you were talking about newspaper-style columns.
When you start talking about putting text boxes in those columns, you're
running off the rails. To begin with, Word will not let you link more
than
32 text boxes. But the main problem is that you're setting yourself up
for a
formatting nightmare. If you don't really want these columns to snake,
you
might be happier using a three-column table.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"DBodell" wrote in message
...
I am considering using newspaper columns (3 columns per page) to
format a
long catalog document. This document will end up being about 150 pages
long.
The reason I want to use newspaper columns is that it allows me to
lengthen
or shorted a column on a page without affecting other columns on that
page...
so that I can leave space for a graphic to be pasted onto the copy
before
going to print for example, with the text flowing to the next page
automatically. It also allows me to keep the columns relatively
aligned at
the bottom of the page without having to column break each column one
at a
time. (I'm not sure if I am explaining this very well).
Anyway, apparently in order to do a long document with newpaper
columns, I
would have to set up all the pages ahead of time, each with 3
identical
text
box columns in exactly the same place on each page.
Is there a way to automate creation of all the pages I will need,
placement
of the three identical text box columns, and the text box linkages
from
one
text box to the next so that I don't have to struggle with this
through
150
pages?
What I want to end up with is a document that looks for all intents
and
purposes like it was simply formatted with 3 columns of equal width...

One final question: If I use newspaper columns with text boxes, can I
still
use bookmark references using Headings styles in my document to create
my
headers (dictionary style)? Each chapter in the document has its own
header/footer and I've always done this before using bookmark
references.
I
just haven't tried it when the text is within a text box.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE!

Diana Bodell