WPS Split Columns helps you divide text inside a presentation text box into multiple columns for cleaner slide layouts; this guide covers 2 core tasks, with 2 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 2 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
| Version limits | No specific version limit stated | Current materials do not list a version threshold |
About This Feature
Overview
Split Columns is a text layout feature in WPS Presentation on Windows. It lets you display text in a single text box across multiple columns, which is useful for brochure-style slides, overview pages, and information-heavy layouts.
Core tasks include:
- Apply columns quickly from the Home or Text Tools tab for one, two, three, or more columns.
- Fine-tune column count and spacing from the Format Object pane for more precise layout control.
Common use cases include promotional slides, training materials, and event overview pages. It helps reduce the reading pressure of long single-column text and makes text-heavy slides easier to organize.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run the current WPS Office desktop app |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | No mandatory network connection is required for local column layout; downloading, installing, and account actions require internet access |
| Other | An editable presentation file and a text box object in a slide |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation | Download the Windows installer and complete setup with the installation wizard |
| Post-install check | Open WPS Presentation, select a text box, and confirm that the Split Columns entry is available from Home or Text Tools |
Source: WPS download center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Supports one-column, two-column, three-column, and more-column layouts inside presentation text boxes, with adjustable column count and spacing. | PowerPoint supports creating columns of text in a text box or shape and lets users set the number of columns and spacing. | Google Docs supports columns in document text, formatting changes, and column breaks, but this is for document pages rather than presentation text boxes. | Notion supports page columns through drag-and-drop side-by-side layout and lets users resize columns, mainly for page content blocks. | Adobe Acrobat supports editing PDF text and moving or resizing text boxes, but the official page focuses on PDF text editing rather than presentation text box columns. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: WPS provides both a direct ribbon entry and a Format Object path for presentation text box columns, which fits slide editing workflows well. | Compared with WPS: Microsoft also supports text box columns, but the official workflow is centered on the Format Shape pane. | Compared with WPS: Google focuses on document column layout instead of slide text box column formatting. | Compared with WPS: Notion focuses on block-based page layout rather than traditional presentation text box column settings. | Compared with WPS: Adobe focuses on PDF text editing and text box adjustment, so column layout is not the main scenario on the cited page. |
| Official Source | — | Create columns of text in a text box or shape | Add or delete columns in a document | Format your page | Edit text in PDFs |
Overall Conclusion
If you need multi-column layout inside a presentation text box, WPS and Microsoft both provide direct text box column controls. Google Docs and Notion are more suitable for document or page layout, while Adobe’s cited documentation is centered on PDF text editing.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main pain point | How Split Columns helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Multi-column promo slides | Marketing and operations users | Long single-column text makes slides look crowded | Split content into two or three columns inside one text box |
| 2 | Training handout slides | Teachers and trainers | Dense text is harder to scan in one block | Use multiple columns and adjust spacing for readability |
| 3 | Event process slides | Admin and event planners | Several text sections need to fit in one area clearly | Use more-column settings for tighter layout control |
| 4 | Product highlight pages | Sales and presentation creators | Parallel selling points are hard to organize in one column | Use Format Object settings to control columns and spacing |
| 5 | Text-and-image mixed layouts | General office users | Text balance becomes uneven after adding graphics | Improve layout balance with text box columns |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Feature area | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Basic split columns use in presentation text boxes | Available | Available |
| Core office apps | Available | Available |
| Advanced office and value-added features | Some features are limited | More advanced features and added benefits are available |
| Cloud storage and template-related benefits | Basic quota or basic access | Higher quota or broader access |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Usage scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional slide editing with column layout | Free | Split Columns is suitable for everyday layout work |
| Frequent work across presentations, templates, PDF tasks, or multiple devices | WPS Premium | A better fit for users who need broader office features and ongoing productivity benefits |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page