Trying to make a double entry journal

Question

Level 1

8 points

Trying to make a double entry journal

A double entry journal is for school, where you quote something from the author on the left half of the page and write about it on the right half.

I cannot figure this out. If you use 2 columns, it messes up the rest of the reports formatting (unusable) and if you use the ruler to only make the text go to the center of the page, you cannot write on the other half.

Please help, it's urgent.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 10, 2008 3:26 PM

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Answer 1

Walt K

Level 4

2,946 points

Jul 10, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Fromethius

Try text boxes. You can continue any overflow to the next page by clicking one the little blue indicator on the right side near the bottom and then clicking on the next page and positioning the box.

Walt

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Answer 2

Fromethius Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 10, 2008 4:07 PM in response to Walt K

Thanks, I marked your post as helpful.

I was kind of looking for something more elegant than this, since, as students in a high level class, we are marked very harshly for our formatting and spacing (sometimes even more so than our content!). When something isn't exactly 24 pt spaced, or isn't aligned perfectly, or not done elegantly, it's points off.

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Answer 3

Walt K

Level 4

2,946 points

Jul 10, 2008 7:22 PM in response to Fromethius

Well, you could try a table with 3 columns, the middle one reduced in width to form a gutter between one and two. You will need to create a new row for each new page. You can keep topics aligned side by side by using cells for like content.

Walt

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Answer 4

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Jul 11, 2008 2:12 AM in response to Fromethius

Fromethius wrote:
I cannot figure this out. If you use 2 columns, it messes up the rest of the reports formatting (unusable) and if you use the ruler to only make the text go to the center of the page, you cannot write on the other half.

I don't understand your problem with the two columns layout.
If a part of the document must remain in single column layout, insert a section break between the two parts.
This is perfectly described in the Help or/and in the PDF users guide.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE vendredi 11 juillet 2008 11:11:50)

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Answer 5

Fromethius Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 11, 2008 8:24 PM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Thanks for the tip, but the 2 column layout doesn't work to begin with.

It makes you type all the way to the bottom and then it loops around. I have to have one paragraph on one side and then be able to type on the next (kinda like floating columns) in respond to it.

I just went with using two text boxes, but I really wish there was a more elegant approach.

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Answer 6

Walt K

Level 4

2,946 points

Jul 11, 2008 9:38 PM in response to Fromethius

You can use two columns by inserting a Column Break in column one so you can type across from it in column two. When you go to the next page, column two will carry over into column one until you put a Column Break in column one. You may also have to make use of the Page Break to achieve the necessary formatting. However, I think Text Boxes or table cells will serve you better. I forgot to mention earlier that you can hide the cell borders via the Table Inspector so that your document will appear to consist of type only.

Walt

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