I am trying to create a RTF file that uses columns. I'm trying to find out if there is a way to have MS Word automatically insert a line at the top of a column after a column (or page) break.



To help illustrate this, I have attached an example page. As you can see on this page, Pat Benatar's songs are continued from column 1 to column 2. I manually inserted the line that you see at the top of column 2, but I would like to know if there is a tag (for example) that I can set that will automatically insert this line if a particular Artist's song list (as in this example) spills over from one column (or page) to the next.

Another good example is a document's Index. Often, the Index will have Headings, followed by subheadings and page numbers. When those subheadings are continued on the next column, it's helpful when the Heading is repeated at the top of that column.

I could even add the string "(cont.)" to the Artist's name, for the sake of clarity.

Thanks in advance for any advice, insight or assistance you can offer.

Attached Files

SongBook.pdf (19.3 KB, 13 views)

Any thoughts from those who have viewed this thread? Anyone else?

I assume you haven't had any responses because nobody knows of a feature that does what you want automatically. FWIW, I don't see any lines at the top of the second column.

I note that Word doesn't have a way of automatically putting the repeated heading at the top of the new column either (unless your content is in a table). Since you need to manually insert this second instance I would just have an alternate style to apply to the second instance of the heading.

I would suggest a simpler alternative that removes the messiness. If the styles of both artist and song include the paragraph setting to 'keep with next' and you precede each artist paragraph with an empty paragraph that has a tiny line height and does not 'keep with next' then you would avoid any of these flow-over instances happening unless an artist had more than a column's worth of songs.

If you are using tables to get the heading to repeat automatically, you might be able to find relevant threads where people have asked how to include a (continued) on subsequent pages. This can be done with a floating white box but is so complicated that most people don't bother unless the requirement is VERY IMPORTANT.

Thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it.

The problem with "Keep with next" is that it would leave a lot of white space at the bottom of many columns. Our customers want a compact Songbook, and they would not want to see a lot of wasted space. And, yes, if a singer has more than one column's worth of songs, then the continuation would not include his/her/their name.

I'll look into the table suggestion. "(cont.)" is not a requirement, but I would consider it a "nice to have" if not too difficult to add.

Thanks again!