Changing the Number of Columns in the Middle of a Document

For some document layouts, columns can be used to present your information clearly and concisely. What if you already have a document and you want to format only part of it in columns? As an example, let's assume you have a five-page document, and you want to format the center part of page two as three columns. You want the rest of the document to remain a single column. To accomplish this formatting challenge, you can follow these steps:

1. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the text that will appear in the columns.
2. Choose Break from the Insert menu. Word displays the Break dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Choose the Continuous radio button.
4. Click on OK. Word inserts a continuous section break in your document.
5. Place the insertion point at the end of the text that will appear in the columns.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 4 to insert another continuous section break.
7. Place the insertion point anywhere within the text that will appear in the columns.
8. Choose the Columns option from the Format menu. You will see the Columns dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
9. In the Number of Columns field, specify the number of columns you desire.
10. In the Apply To drop-down list, make sure it says This Section.
11. Click on OK.