Re: Column layout in TeX

[Martin Minich <minich5@example.com>]

On Wed, 20 Dec 2000, Ulrik wrote:

> Hi everybody,
> 
> I don't know if this is the right forum, but!
> 
> How do I get LaTex to create at two column layout, with an abstract spanning 
> the two columns? Also I would like the last text aligned, so the reference 
...
> |                       |
> |         Title         |
> |                       |
> |-----------------------|
> |                       |
> |        Abstract       |
> |                       |
> |-----------------------|
> |           |           |
> |       Text with       |
> |    lots of figures    |
> |           |           |
> |           |           |
> |           |           |
> |           |           |
> |-----------------------|
> |           |           |
> |      References       |
> |           |           |
> |-----------------------|
> 

there _is_ a package called "multicol" or "multicols" in LaTeX2e;
it provides an environment called "multicol" where number of columns
is parametrically given; when you end the environment, the columns
get aligned (both at the top and bottom); pagebreak inside the multicol
environment is all right; though, i don't know how does it cope with
those "lots of figures"; a figure within one column should be allright,
though it does not (afaik) cope well with figures spreading through
more columns (does anyone know how to do THIS??);
floating figures pagewide are all right and they'll get placed on the
top of the new page;

summing up, that what you'd like to do, could be done in LaTeX2e
approximately like this (consult the documentation, please; i'm writing
out of my head):

\usepackage{multicols} % or multicol ?
...
\begin{document}
\maketitle % or other (your favourite) way to make a title

  abstract that be pagewide
\begin{multicol}{2}
the main text
\end{multicol}
\begin{multicol}{2}
references
\end{multicol}

okay, i have similar problem:
does anyone know how to do this?

|  title                               |
+--------------------------------------+
|                          |           |
|        figure            |           |
|                          |  text     |
+--------------------------+           |
|            |             |           |
|            |    text     |           |
|   text     |             |   text    |
|            |    text     |           |
|   text     |             |           |
|            |             |           |
+------------+-------------+-----------+

i'd be very happy if someone gave any advice,

greetings from

		martin