Page LayoutMulticolumn Problem

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stretch65
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:49 am

Multicolumn Problem

Post by stretch65 »

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could suggest a 'multicolumn' package that suits my needs? At the moment I've been using the 'multicol' package to create 2 columns on a page as in the following code fragment:

Code: Select all

\usepackage{multicol}
.
.
.
\begin{multicols}{2}
  This line ends up in the 1st column.\\
  This line ends up in the 2nd column.\\
\end{multicols}
The trouble with 'multicol' is that the lines of text are evenly distributed over all the columns. For example, if I add 2 lines of text, the first line goes in the first column and the 2nd line goes in the 2nd column. I don't want this. I'd prefer it to fill up the first column with text until it reaches the end of the page, and any further lines to then fill up the 2nd column. Is this possible with 'multicol'? Is there some other package that allows this?

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josephwright
Site Moderator
Posts: 814
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:19 pm

Multicolumn Problem

Post by josephwright »

The standard LaTeX multicolumn environment does that. Have you tried

Code: Select all

\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
Joseph Wright
torbjorn t.
Posts: 162
Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:18 pm

Multicolumn Problem

Post by torbjorn t. »

The multicol-package also offers a starred environment, in which the columns of the last page will not be balanced. See the multicol-manual:
http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/ ... lticol.pdf

Code: Select all

\documentclass[a4paper]{article}
\usepackage{multicol,lipsum}

\begin{document}
\begin{multicols*}{2}
\lipsum
\end{multicols*}
\end{document}
Edit: This feature was implemented in version 1.5q of the package, so if you have an older version you will have to update.
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