Link columns in word


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A user-friendly guide to create two separate text columns on Microsoft Word


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  • Using the Mobile App

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Do you want to split text into multiple columns in Microsoft Word? With the «Columns» feature, you can easily do so in a few simple steps. With the desktop version of Word, you’ll be able to create columns with selected text. On mobile, you’ll need to change the whole document layout. This wikiHow will show you how to make two or more columns in your Microsoft Word document using your Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android device.

Things You Should Know

  • On desktop, highlight the text you want to split. Click «Layout» → «Columns» → «Two.»
  • On mobile, tap ••• → «Home» → «Layout» → «Columns» → «Two».
  • You can only split selected text on desktop. Creating columns on mobile will change the entire document layout.

  1. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 1

    1

    Open the Microsoft Word document you want to edit. Find the Word document you want to edit on your computer, and double-click on its icon to open it.[1]

    • If you don’t have Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer, you can download it or use the free web version at https://www.office.com.
    • You can also add images to your document if you’re planning to create a «news column» type document.

  2. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 2

    2

    Select all the text you want to split into columns. Click the beginning of the text you want to edit, and drag your mouse until the end of it. Selected parts will be highlighted.

    • If you want to select the whole document, you can use a keyboard shortcut.
      • On Mac, press Command + A.
      • On Windows, press CTRL + A.

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  3. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 3

    3

    Click the Layout tab at the top. This button is located above the toolbar at the top of your document.

    • Depending on your version of Word, this button may also be labeled Page Layout.

  4. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 4

    4

    Click the Columns button on the Layout toolbar. This looks like a rectangle with horizontal lines divided in two sets.

    • A drop-down menu will open.

  5. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 5

    5

    Select Two on the drop-down menu. This will split the selected text into two columns.

    • Alternatively, you can select another option here, and create even more columns. You can select: One (default), Two, Three, Left, Right, or More Columns.

  6. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 6

    6

    Change the size of your columns (optional). You can click and drag the edges of the ruler at the top of your document to change the size of your columns.

    • If you don’t see the ruler, click the View tab, then click the box next to Ruler in the Show section.
    • Make sure you still have your column text selected when you adjust the size.
    • This is an optional adjustment. If you prefer not to change the column sizes, your columns will be equal in size by default.
    • Be sure to save your Word document when you’re finished.

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  1. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 7

    1

    Open a document in the Microsoft Word app. This looks like a blue notebook next to a W. Microsoft Word is available for iOS in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store.

    • Tap Blank document to open a new document or tap a file to open an existing document.
    • You can’t put specific text into two columns on the mobile app. This method will adjust the entire document’s layout without needing to select text.

  2. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 8

    2

    Tap ••• . This can be found above the keyboard, to the right.

    • If you don’t see your keyboard, tap the document to bring it up.
    • A new menu will open.

  3. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 9

    3

    Tap Home. This will be to the left of the formatting window.

    • A drop-down menu will open.

  4. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 10

    4

    Tap Layout. You’ll see a list of options you can make to your page layout.

  5. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 11

    5

    Tap Columns. This will be next to the icon of horizontal lines divided in two sets.

  6. Image titled Make Two Columns in Word Step 12

    6

    Tap Two. This will split the selected text into two columns.

    • Alternatively, you can select another option here, and split your text into more columns. You can select: One (default), Two, Three, Left, or Right.
    • Your page layout will now have two columns. When you enter text, it will fill the left column first, then continue onto the right column.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    My layout key does not have the option for columns. How do I add that?

    Community Answer

    You are probably using the web version. It doesn’t have a lot of special options. The best solution is just to get the Word app and try again.

  • Question

    How to create a two columns with separate texts?

    Community Answer

    This is very simple. When typing in each column, type different things. If it tries to connect them, just start a new paragraph.

  • Question

    I want to change back to a full document after the columns. Then change back to columns and so forth (Recipe title and serving size, then columns for actual recipe; then another recipe on same page.)

    Community Answer

    At the bottom of the advanced column settings, there is a dropdown box labeled «Apply to:». Set the column number and click this to select the section you want to update. The easiest option is to highlight a section and select the «selected text» option.

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In this article, we will demonstrate you 3 effective ways to create a two-column Word document where the first column text is independent of the second one.

Naturally, when we create a document in columns, the text of the first column is always linked to that of the next one on the same page. Yet, in some cases, we may need to connect it to the first column text on next page. For example, to compile a translation work in bilateral languages will need to set the source contents and targeted translation in parallel columns on one page. Besides, some people could just prefer to make notes on the column next to the body text.

Luckily, the following 3 methods will enable you to achieve that goal.

Method 1: Insert a Table

  1. First and foremost, click “Insert” tab.
  2. Then click “Table”.
  3. On the drop-down menu, choose a table in size of one row and two columns. Click "Insert" ->Click "Table"-> Click"Draw a Table"
  4. Next, click the plus sign on the upper-left corner to select the table.
  5. Right click and choose “Table Properties”.Select Table ->Choose "Table Properties"
  6. Now click “Row” tab first.
  7. And ensure the “Specify height” box is cleared and the “Allow row to break across pages” box is checked.
  8. Then click “OK”.Click "Row" ->Clear the "Specify height" Box ->Check the "Allow row to break across pages" Box ->Click "OK"
  9. You can click and drag the line between 2 columns to adjust the column width.Drag the Line to Adjust Column Width
  10. Then select the table again.
  11. Right click and choose “AutoFit”.
  12. Then choose “Fixed Column Width” on the extend menu.Choose "AutoFit" ->Choose "Fixed Column Width"
  13. If you want no border for the table, just select it and click “Borders” under “Design” tab. Then choose “No Border”.Click "Design" ->Click "Borders" ->Click "No Border"

Method 2: Insert Linked Text Boxes

  1. First off, open a new document.
  2. Then click “Insert” and click “Blank Page” to insert a new page.Click "Insert" ->Click "Blank Page"
  3. Now go back to the first page and click “Text Box” under “Insert” tab.
  4. Choose “Draw Text Box”.Click "Text Box" ->Click "Draw Text Box"
  5. Next draw 2 text boxes on the first page, with one on the left and another on the right. Here we just name them A1 and B1.
  6. Repeat step 2 to insert another new page that is page 3. This is to guarantee that you can always to insert a new page on a blank page without cut the link between text boxes.
  7. On page 2, draw 2 text boxes. Here we name them A2 and B2.
  8. Make sure all text boxes are empty. Now click on text box A1 and then click “Create Link” under “Format” tab.Click "Format" ->Click "Create Link"
  9. You shall observe that the cursor changes to a shape like teapot. Go to click on the text box you want to link. In this case, it’s text box A2. And then use the same way to link text boxes on the other side, such as B1 and B2. When the first text box is full, contents will automatically flow to the linked one.
  10. To remove box lines, you can right click on text box line and choose “Format Shape”. Then choose “No line” under “Line Color” and close the “Format Shape” dialog box.Choose "Line Color" ->Click "No line" ->Click "Close"

Method 3: Use Text Box in a Two-column Document

For those documents which have the final contents settled, you can take method 3.

  1. At first, click “Page Setup” tab and then click “Columns”.
  2. Next choose “Two” to set the document in 2 columns.Click "Page Setup" ->Click "Columns" ->Click "Two"
  3. Now put cursor at the end of the first column on the first page and click “Insert” tab.
  4. Then click “Page Break”. You shall see the second column text on first page just jump to the left on the second page, leaving the right side of the first page in blank.Click "Insert" ->Click "Page Break"
  5. Apply the same way to move the second column on second page to the left side on the third page, and so on. The aim is to keep the right side of all pages in empty.
  6. Then you can insert text box on the right side of each page and link them by taking steps in method 2.

Manage Long Word Documents

Due to all reasons, processing long documents is inevitable in office work. Since we know Word is susceptible to corruption, long files just increase its risk of being compromised. Thus, to back up files on a regular routine seems never more important. It allows you to turn to the latest version of data in case Word damage happens.

Author Introduction:

Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including corrupt Excel xls fix and pdf repair software products. For more information visit www.datanumen.com

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  • Remove From My Forums

  • Question

  • Hi All,

    I have a site colums that is a link column (URL + Description)… I am trying to insert in a word doc the «link» and I would like to insert only the description (bu clicking on it I should be able to go to the url)…

    In the quick parts the link column does not appear… is there any reason? aany suggestion?

    thanks

    Ivan

    • Moved by

      Tuesday, June 21, 2011 6:52 AM
      Suspect this is a better location for a Word Quick Parts question (From:SharePoint — General Question and Answers and Discussion (pre-SharePoint 2010))

Answers

  • AFAIK it does not appear because

     a. Word inserts such properties using Content Controls connected to data stored in a CustomXMLPart that is created by Sharepoint when you retrieve the document

     b. Word does not have as many types of Content Control as Sharepoint has column types (even the built-in types)

     c. Specifically, Word does not have a Content Control type intended to contain a Hyperlink, And you can’t connect the «general purpose» rich text content controls to data in CustomXMLParts.

    There was a discussion on a similar subject recently which may help…

    http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/worddev/thread/c7619237-baa1-4669-af65-0f0a39223aad

    Peter Jamieson

    • Marked as answer by
      Calvin_Gao
      Wednesday, June 29, 2011 1:01 PM

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I want to do a two-column layout in Microsoft Word, but instead of the second column being written as a continuation of the first, I want the two columns to be written separately just like they were two different pages.

How would you go about doing this in Word 2010?

fixer1234's user avatar

fixer1234

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asked Jan 12, 2012 at 17:21

Lance Roberts's user avatar

Lance RobertsLance Roberts

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Another easy way to do what you describe is to use a table. Turn the borders off and you’ll get two columns that are independent of each other.

answered Jan 12, 2012 at 20:02

yosh m's user avatar

1

Using a column break is the easiest way that fits within the structure Word gives you to work with columns.

In the Page Layout tab, after you’ve set up the desired number of columns, in the Page Setup section, click the Breaks dropdown and select the Column break command.

answered Jan 12, 2012 at 20:13

music2myear's user avatar

music2myearmusic2myear

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1

Honestly… You’re getting more into page-layout than document creation. Word does a better job of doing document creation than it does with page layout. Publisher is much better at page-layouts. You can accomplish the same task in Word… but it appears slightly different than you would expect.

Under the «Page Layout» tab… go to Margins -> Custom Margins (at the bottom of the list), and then near the middle of the dialog, there should be a «Multiple Pages:» drop-down-box with «2 Pages per sheet». Also set the page-layout to Landscape. On the screen while editing, it would appear like you’re working on 1 skinny page… and as you add content… what appears to be the 2nd page will actually be printed on the second half on the 1st printed-page.

answered Jan 12, 2012 at 17:42

TheCompWiz's user avatar

TheCompWizTheCompWiz

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2

Using a later version of Office (probably 2007 upwards) you can insert something called a sidebar. Sidebars are similar to regular text boxes, but get some extra formatting (which you may or may not appreciate).

You would have to insert it manually onto every page, so it’s not a good solution for longer documents. However it does sidestep some of the difficulties of working with tables.

Go to the ‘insert’ ribbon, click ‘Text Box’, then select a sidebar.

answered Oct 30, 2013 at 9:21

Kit Johnson's user avatar

Kit JohnsonKit Johnson

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Here’s a slightly more complex but more flexible solution:

If it’s only for a few pages or less, you could also insert two textboxes on each page, and direct the overflow the way you want it. This way, you can finely control the margins of the columns and be completely sure how the text is going to flow. (However, I think that stuff like that is usually easier in Publisher, where you can set text baseline spacing globally.)

answered Aug 1, 2016 at 1:07

ksoo's user avatar

ksooksoo

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It’s easy.

1) Part columns

2) Click «more columns» in «columns» to choose spaces, width, etc.
3) Use a column break — it will send you to the second column. Use column break on top of second column to send text to next page’s first column.

If you have numbered content, a paragraph indent will appear on top of the second page’s first column.
Click ‘delete’ —which will delete the number, but go back to the previous page’s second column and tap ‘enter’ once. This will renumber the text on the second page.

answered Jan 6, 2018 at 14:04

Kothai's user avatar

0

If you put a hard page break (CTRL + ENTER) at the end of the second column they will unbalance and you can treat each separately.

answered Aug 16, 2019 at 20:20

Robert Williams's user avatar

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