Create paragraphs that span or split columns

You can make a paragraph span across multiple columns in a text frame to create a straddle head effect. You can choose whether a paragraph spans all columns or a specified number of columns. When a paragraph is set to span across columns in a multicolumn text frame, any text before the spanning paragraph becomes balanced as a result.

You can also split a paragraph into multiple columns within the same text frame.

For a video tutorial on creating paragraphs that span or split columns, go to www.adobe.com/go/lrvid5151_id_en or http://tv.adobe.com/go/4952/.

Paragraph spanning and splitting multiple columns
A.
Heading that spans columns

B.
Split column

Span a paragraph across columns

  1. Place the insertion point inside the paragraph.

    You can also make this feature part of a paragraph style, such as a heading style.

  2. Choose Span Columns from the Control panel menu or a Paragraph panel menu.

  3. Choose Span Columns from the Paragraph Layout menu.

  4. Choose the number of columns you want the paragraph to span from the Span menu. Choose All if you want the paragraph to span across all the columns.

  5. To add extra space before or after the span paragraph, specify Space Before Span and Space After Span values, and then click OK.

Split a paragraph into columns

  1. Place the insertion point inside the paragraph.

    You can also make this feature part of a paragraph style, such as a heading style.

  2. Choose Span Columns from the Control panel menu or a Paragraph panel menu.

  3. Choose Split Columns from the Paragraph Layout menu.

  4. Specify the following options, and then click OK:

    Sub-columns
    Choose the number of columns you want the split the paragraph into.

    Space Before Split / Space After Split
    Add space before or after the split paragraph.

    Inside Gutter
    Determine the space between the split paragraphs.

    Outside Gutter
    Determine the space between the outside of the split paragraphs and the margins.