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Why doesn't "Keep with next" work if the number of columns are different?

Anonymous
2022-06-22T19:33:25+00:00

I want a paragraph that exists as a 1 column line to "Keep with next" for a two column line on the next page. Why doesn't that seem to be working? In the example below, I want E.2.-E.2.a. to look like E.1.-E.1.a. but on the following page using the "Keep with Next" feature. Is this possible to do?

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  1. Jay Freedman 207.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-06-22T20:52:00+00:00

    The failure to Keep With Next is due to the presence of a section break between the one-column and two-column sections (which is required because column count is a section property, not a paragraph property). This is true whenever there is a section break, regardless of whether the column count changes from one section to the next. Here's an example where both sections are one column:

    Probably the best way to handle your text would be to use a two-column table with the borders turned off. It appears that all of the currently one-column text will fit into the left column of such a table, with the cells to their right remaining blank. In a table, Keep With Next will work.

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  2. Stefan Blom 341.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-06-22T22:30:09+00:00

    OK, I clearly misunderstood the initial post in this thread.

    As Jay points out, at any time when you change the number of columns, you need a new section. (If you don't create one manually, Word will insert it for you.) A section break will stop the text flow, so any text flow options, such as "Keep with next," will no longer apply.

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  3. Stefan Blom 341.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-06-22T19:42:57+00:00

    Here, "Keep with next" formatting works from one column to the next in a two-column section:

    Image

    In my screen shot above, I have displayed nonprinting marks to ensure that there isn't a blank paragraph between the text paragraphs.

    Your screen shot indicates that Track Changes is active in your document. Maybe "unresolved" changes explain what you are seeing in your document.

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  4. Stefan Blom 341.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-06-22T20:43:53+00:00

    Display all nonprinting marks, for example by clicking the ¶ icon on the Home tab and take a new screen shot.

    Or you can share a sample document with the forum. Upload your sample to (say) OneDrive or Dropbox and post a share link in this thread.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-06-22T20:23:25+00:00

    I tried accepting all the changes and turning off the Track Changes feature, had no effect.

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