How to Use WPS Columns on Windows

Use WPS Columns through 4 how-to topics, including preset columns, custom columns, columns for selected text, and column breaks; 4 items are available without membership and 0 are membership-related.

How-to Index

How-to Guide

1. Set preset columns

Entry point: Page Layout tab → Columns

1. Open the Writer document that you want to format.
2. Click the Page Layout tab or the related Page tab.
3. Click Columns.
4. Select a preset such as one column, two columns, or three columns.
5. Check whether the column layout has been applied to the current selection or the whole document.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The body text is rearranged according to the selected number of columns.
• Next actions: You can continue typing, adjust content, or save the document.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If you do not confirm the selection first, the columns setting may apply to the whole document.
• Environment limits: Use this in an editable Writer document.

2. Customize columns

Entry point: Page tab → Columns → More settings

1. Open the document and go to the related Page tab.
2. Click Columns.
3. Select More settings or a similar option.
4. In the dialog box, choose from more preset column modes.
5. Turn the separator line on or off as needed.
6. Choose the apply range, such as the whole document, from this point forward, the selected section, or the selected text.
7. Click OK to apply the settings.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The document shows the selected column count or separator line effect.
• Next actions: You can continue fine-tuning the page layout and save the result.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If you do not confirm the apply range, the change may affect more content than expected.
• Environment limits: The exact label may vary slightly, but the entry is under the columns settings.

3. Apply columns to selected text

Entry point: Page tab → Columns

1. Select the text that you want to place into columns.
2. Click the related Page or Page Layout tab.
3. Click Columns.
4. Choose the column layout you want.
5. Check whether the change applies only to the selected text.

Success Criteria

• UI state: Only the selected text area changes to a multi-column layout, while other content keeps its original formatting.
• Next actions: You can continue editing the selected multi-column area or return it to a single column.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If you apply columns without selecting text first, the whole document may change.
• Environment limits: Confirm the selection range before applying the layout.

4. Insert a column break

Entry point: A column break command under Insert or a related page layout menu

1. Place the cursor where you want the next column to begin.
2. Open the related Insert or Page Layout menu.
3. Select Column Break.
4. Check whether the following text starts at the top of the next column.

Success Criteria

• UI state: The text after the cursor starts in a new column.
• Next actions: You can continue typing and combine this with other column settings for more precise formatting.

Tips While Using

• Common mistakes: If the current content is not already in a multi-column layout, the column break may not appear to do much.
• Environment limits: Set up columns first, then insert a column break for position control.