I will show you how
to easily create and modify columns in Writer. I will give you direct
examples and explanations. Then you can follow it and apply it on
your document.
Types of Columns
Firstly, you should
know the types of columns. There are generally 2 types of columns
based on the vertical position. First, partial column in single page.
It means some parts are columned and other parts are not in a single
page. Second, whole parts columned. It means no part is different.
See picture below to differ it.
As you can see, the advantage of using the first column model is to create first page of paper or any scientific document. And you can make more then one
column per page. You may split your document into 2 or 3 or more
columns.
Create Two Columns
In Writer, to make
column you need to open menu Format > Columns. This is the
Columns Manager window. In columns creating, you should choose
whether create it befor or after. Create it before means you create
the column before the text. Create it after means you create the
columns after the text. I will show you how to create the second one.
Firstly, select the whole text you want to split.
Second, open Columns
Manager in menu Format > Columns > type number 2 in the Columns
box > specify the white space between column in Spacing box
> press OK.
 |
| Create Two Columns and Set Spacing |
Third, you will see the result. Your whole text (selected text) will
be split up into two columns.
 |
| Two Columns with Title in Left Column |
Create Two Columns Excluding The Title
It is same with
before. You just need to select all text except the title.
 |
| Two Columns with Single Centered Title |
You get your
document slit up by two columns except the unselected text. In this
case, the title.
Create Two Asymmetric Columns
In the examples
above, you see only symmetrical columns. How to create the asymmetric
ones? You just need to set them in Columns Manager. Select the column
icon which has asymmetric form. Then specify the size of every column
below it. Or you can just leave it default.
 |
| Asymmetric Width Columns |
 |
| The Result |
The result is you
get your text split up into 2 column but the left column is wider
than the right column. If you choose the another one, you get flipped
columns width like this.
Insert Separator Line Between Columns
In the Columns
Manager, specify the separator line in the Separator section.
You can choose the line style (dotted or straight), color, height,
and width. But before that, you should set Space between
columns. I give you example Space = 0.40, Line Style: dotted, Width =
0.25, and Color = Black. See picture below.
 |
| Set Separator Line |
Bonus
If you format the columns frequently, you will need shortcut key to open it directly without clicking. Set it at menu Tools > Customize > tab Keyboard > see Category and select Format > see Function: and select Columns > look above and select one shortcut preset e.g.Ctrl+Insert > click Modify button > the shortcut Ctrl+Insert will appear in the Keys box > press OK. Now you can access Columns Manager quickly by pressing Ctrl+Insert. See picture below and follow the annotation numbers.
