How do you make two Parallel Columns in Pages?

Hi Steve,

What Peter said, plus...

Your solution produces what the OP referred to as "Newspaper columns." At the end of one column, the text flow continues from the top of the column to the right on the same page. The OP wanted a left column from which the text continued in the left column of the next page, and a right column where the text continued on the right column of the next page.

Linked text boxes,which the OP rejected as 'too tedious' would solve the issue in Pages '09. As Peter stated, that, or any other solution does not exist in Pages v5.

Regards,

Barry

HI forkings,

You could set up the two text boxes on a single page, or set up two consecutive pages, Capture the page(s), then Insert as many as you need, using the Sections button in the toolbar. Link each box with the next as you go along (takes two clicks).

If still too tedious, you'll need to learn AppleScript (which may provide a solution), or find a different application.

REgards,

Barry

Use two sets of linked text boxes.

Compressed for the example. In practice, one box of each set would hold the text for that colun on a single page.

Regards,

Barry

You create the 2 columns and then you insert a column break after the text in the first coloumn. And the same in the second column.

Whether in Microsoft Word or in Mac Pages, the best way (and also the easiest way) to achieve parallel columns is to use Tables. The two column tables, without gridlines or borders and without header/footer, should work fine. I used these "parallel" columns to translate from one language to another, so that left column is in English and the right column is in another language, such as Spanish. This is what it looks like when editing in Pages 5, but it also works with Pages '09.

Of course, when you finish editing, it looks like a normal 2 column document.

It is neither the easiest nor the best but seems to be the only one many users can think of.

Individual cells in Tables do not flow from page to page and in Pages 5 & 6 there are problems with inserting graphics and formatting within cells. Plus all the pain of trying to remove, indents, rules, borders and cell formats.

In Pages '09 you can use two side by side Text boxes and link those across pages, but that is not possible in Pages 5 and 6.

Peter

What do you mean by news paper columns? And how are they different from parallell columns?

Click on "Format", then click the "Layout" tab. Directly below is "Columns". Enter the number of columns. To adjust the sizes open the Columns section.

Steve

It is an old question and forkings was talking about Pages '09 not Pages 5, and this nor any other solution will do what forkings wanted in Pages 5.

Peter

Old thread, but new idea presented. It's a 'rain in Spain' moment!*

This looks good, coconutstudio.

Regards,

Barry

*"By George, I think (s)he's got it!"

Hi coconutstudio,

Please keep posting in Pages for Mac. We need lateral thinkers like you!

Regards,

Ian.