Having a problem with 2 columns... for some reason it writes some of it in the first column, then the bit following in the second column, then goes back to the first column.

I've tried switching to 1 column and back to 2 and the formatting stays that way. Help! :D:confused:

I got it to work by making it 1 column and deleting all spaces between the bits that were messing up. Bloomin' thing.

There are 2 types of columns. Make sure you are using snaking columns. This fills up the first column before going to the second.

I think I just managed to put some kind of break in there when I was editing.

Another problem. On my last page, it seems to want to make my 2 columns the same length. I don't want that, I want the first column to reach the bottom.

Any ideas?

I assume you are using Word? If so which version? There should be some setting in the Column properties.

Word 2000, I can't see anythign in the column menu. - there's a check box for same width, but nothing for length

I don't really need to use columns, but they look kind of smart for academic papers..

Ok, I don't have Word 2K here. I'll check tonight.

A for effort - but I needed to share the love :(

I solved the problem by putting the perfect amount of text in so that both columns reached the bottom, however, while I understand the need for it in most cases to be equal length, I don't understand why there isn't an option to turn that off.

I'm still interested if you to find a way to do it :) - academic papers are kind of what I do.

I'm still having problems with this with another document, any idea scott? :/

Can you attach a zipped version of the document?

It's not an elegant solution by any means (and it only works for a printout, not for the file itself), but you can work around the problem by making it into two separate documents: one for the entire paper, and one for a single page. Once you've gotten the overall text complete, copy the text that's on the last page to the second document, and change the lower margin until they're even.

I made this using lorem ipsum text. It has the sdame problem I am having, the columns are even at the bottom of the second page.

Change view to Normal. You will see a Section Break at the end of the columns set to Continuous. Delete that break and set a Break As New Page. That will allow uneven columns on the last page.

If you want to continue with Columns on the next page then you just need to insert a Column break instead of a Section break. If you want the next page to be a single column, you will have to set the first paragraph after the Section Break to a single column.

Thanks Scott! I wish I had known this before I printed out my documents. Another string to my bow I guess.