How to escape two columns trap?

[L-user]

In LibreOffice 4.0.5.2 Writer on Windows XP I created two columns and after that I am unable to escape outside of this two columns trap.



Details:

1. New Writer document.
   
2. Copy the following text and paste in document: “I would like to write text in two columns. So here is two column examples.”
   
3. Select whole text e.g. CTRL+A.
   
4. Format | Columns.
   
5. In Columns input box change 1 to 2 and click on OK button.
   
   Now text is formatted in two columns. But now we are in ‘two columns trap’! Now suppose you would like to write some text bellow two columns formatting, but in ordinal one (one column) text layout. How to get outside of this “two column trap” into normal layout.

[oweng]

You can “escape” from the section created in the provided example (i.e., converting all content to 2-column layout) by placing the cursor at the end of the section and using ALT+ENTER.

[dajare]

Yeah, that’s the key combo we’re looking for. Of course, the same combination is the one to use to get “normal” text above the two-column bit as well. (And this is also true in the case of, e.g., a table at the top of a file that you you now want to go “above” – which is a situation I end up in sometimes.) Thanks for this!

[drjimbouk]

Hi,
This doesn’t seem to work in v5.0 . I want to put two images side by side.I created a section with two columns and inserted the images with captions in each column. I place the cursor after the second image/caption/column and hit ALT + ENTER.

Text entered now continues in the second column. How do I close that section and get back to the page style of a single column?
This is driving me crazy!!

[jimbo1qaz]

Solution is to NOT select all!

[pmheart6]

This is most definitely still relevant
It might be a newer version, and (Format | columns) no longer exists, but I was just in this trap. I pasted two column text. I created a new section (Section 2 a sub section of section 1) I was still dealing with two columns before and after section 2 (i.e. section 1) both section one and page layout didn’t show two columns

Hitting ALT+ENTER at the end of the section broke me out of the two column trap.

[pmheart6]

@drjimbouk try creating a new section? In your example, the sections default layout is two columns – this trap is if a section has an area of two columns within it when the section itself is listed as single column.

[pmheart6]

NOTE: My version is Version: 6.0.3.2 (x64)
Build ID: 8f48d515416608e3a835360314dac7e47fd0b821

Also this may be and XML section vs LibreOffice section? hence alt-enter vs Insert | section or format | section (See next answer “no 2-column-trap” comment by oweng

[ROSt53]

Be assured there is no 2-column-trap You need to create sections. A section for 2 columns followed by a section with 1 column (=Normal) or another section with 3 columns and so on…

Have a look at:

Inserting Sections - LibreOffice Help

Edit Sections - LibreOffice Help

Using Sections - LibreOffice Help

[L-user]

Thanks for help. I didn’t know this can be solved using Sections (actually I never used sections before, despite using LibreOffice/OpenOffice for years).

[oweng]

The reason why this solves the dilemma is because columns are created using the <text:section> element and attributing the <style:columns> element as a property.

[ROSt53]

@oweng - thanks for the info on the technical background!

[TimC]

A solution for me in LO5 if you have a section in two columns but want to go back to one column. I am working in an originally MS Word document so am not starting from scratch.:

Set all your text to 1 column Format->Columns.
Highlight the part of your text which should be in two (or more) columns, then go to Format->Columns again and set the number of columns, making sure to apply to : Selection. Select OK.

Regards

[pmheart6]

Ahhhh xml code in the middle – I think your section is different from the Libre office section .

[L-user]

Actually I have found out another not-so-fancy solution. Just add some text to next line, I added single “x” character. So I am now sure I can always get out of two-columns-trap, just by clicking on x.

[ROSt53]

It might work always but it could get tricky. Good luck or decide to stay on the safe side. See @oweng’s comment.