Q: footer,  cannot delete the standard 3 columns

You can't, that is part of Pages 5.

You could use Pages '09.

Peter

Not sure if this has already been solved... Here is my solution:

Leave the current footer blank

1. Add a table somewhere on the page and format it to look like the footer you desire. You might want to add a column specifically for the page number (if that is part of your footer).
2. If you are using page numbers, insert it using the method you would normally use for inserting it in the 'built in' footer.
3. Click on the table you just created (that looks like the footer of your dreams) and on the 'Arrange' Tab click on 'Stay on Page'.
4. You should now be able to move your table to the position on the page where you want your footer to appear (you can place it directly over the 'built in' footer if you want).
5. With the table selected go to the 'Arrange' menu and then down to 'Section Masters' and then over to 'Move Object to Section Master'.
6. You should now have a custom footer.

You might have to do this for each section, but I am too lazy to test (and I only have on section)

Hope this works for others.

Not sure what you want to put into your ONE column but if you start typing in any of the three columns the text will eventually fill across the entire page. AND as far as I can see you can include Page numbers even within a line that you have filled with far too much text for just one column.

Try it.

If it doesn't suit your need then tell us what you want to put into the ONE column you would prefer.

I am not quite sure on what grounds you feel the authority define 'far to much text for just one column' and you are missing the point. The point is that users can create their own footers that are not restricted to the functionality built into the one included by the Apple software engineers.

A use case for the problem with using the built in footer would be if a user wants to left justify footer text in the left box, and then right justify a page number in the far right box.

Text will NOT fill across the entire page if you use one of the boxes to hold a page number. Text placed in the left box will be cut off. The same will happen for text placed in the middle box. Keep in mind that it may appear to work while editing the footer, but the text will be cut off when you click out of the box.

The case could be made for using the left box and adding spaces to artificially create a right justified page number. The problem with that approach is that the page number may be forced down to a second line if your page count grows. Tabs don't appear to be an option.

The real problem was Apple's decision to create a table like structure for the footer, while not granting the user full access to all table properties. Additionally, the problem is NOT too much text. That is not for you or I to decide.

For the last three years, Apple has perceived that users want a tripartite header and footer that cannot be changed. But you can roll your own header, and footer — or as Peter recommends, use Pages '09 — as it is without those partitions.

As for rolling your own header or footer in Pages v5, here is one approach with images.