How do I place my copy into columns in PageMaker?

Sometimes copy that is placed in PageMaker needs to be in more than one column.

First column

• Place copy in the first column. Only a portion of the text can be seen.
• Select the column with the pointer tool.
• Windowshade handles appear on the top and bottom. These can be used to change the text area’s depth.
• Handles at the four corners allow the copy block’s width, depth and size to change.
• A red down-pointing arrow in the bottom windowshade handle indicates there is more text to be placed.
• The bottom windowshade handle can be dragged to make the copy block deeper, but the hidden copy is going to be placed in a new column.

Second column

• Click once on the arrow in the bottom windowshade handle in the first column.
• The cursor changes to another loaded text icon.
• Use this icon to place the copy into the second column.
• Click in the upper left hand corner of the second column and drag down and to the right, then let go.

Third column

• Click on the red arrow at the bottom of the second column.
• The cursor changes to another loaded text icon.
• Use this icon to place the copy into the second column.
• Click in the upper left hand corner of the third column and drag down and to the right, then let go.

Reformat the text

• Select the text tool.
• To change the size and format of the text, DO NOT highlight the text with the mouse. If any text is hidden, it will not change to the new formats.
• Instead, click in the text block with the text tool and choose Select All from the Edit menu,(Command+A on the Macintosh or Ctrl+A in Windows). Now when the size, alignment, or style is changed, even the copy not showing will be affected.

Uneven column length

• After making formatting changes, the columns may not be even.
• To make the columns even, or the same length, click on a column with the pointer tool and move the bottom windowshade handle up or down.
• As the three columns are threaded, the copy will reflow to fill the new space.
• Experiment with changing the leading, tracking and point size to make the copy fit the desired space.

TIP: Click on the first column with the pointer tool. The bottom windowshade handle now has a plus (+) sign in it. This is to indicate that there is more copy in another area. Click on the second column, there is a plus symbol in the top and bottom windowshade handle. The text in this column is linked to two other copy areas.