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FrameMaker 12, unstructured: I am considering using two-column pages in my book. Some of figures (and tables, too) require width of full two columns. For these wide figures I'd like to make a figure heading that is located below a figure and that have text frame width of full two columns. If I use a two column wide anchored text frame I get the heading text right but automatic numbering of the figure headings would not work because text frame is outside body text flow. I could maybe use a customized master page, split text flows on body pages or other own inventions. Now I am using numbering format for figure headings "F:Figure <n+>. " and auto numbering is working correctly across the book in single column pages. But, let's ask now from more experienced FM users, what is the recommended method to make this kind of wide figure headings on two column pages and simultaneously keeping automatic figure heading numbering working across the whole book?
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Perhaps some useful tips in A way to label graphics?
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If I understand correctly, the simple answer should be to go into the
Paragraph Designer, on the Pagination tab, and set the paragraph format
to be "Across All Columns" for your figure heading paragraph format.
This should make it stretch across both columns.
If you are using the common method of placing graphics in a one-cell
table, and using the table title to hold either the caption or figure
heading, there does seem to be a quirk, though. Placing a two-column
wide graphic stretches fine across both columns, but the table title
(caption) seems to want to stay in only one column. In that case, you
will have to turn off table titles and put the caption or figure heading
in a separate paragraph that either follows or precedes the paragraph
holding the graphic. And set it to "Across All Columns," as described
above. Autonumbering will work fine that way, too.
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I went back and looked at this some more. I've been popping two-column
wide graphics-with-captions into my documents for ages, using the
AutoText plugin. I assumed they were set up as described previously, but
I looked more closely at this, and I amusing a one-cell table (with
table title holding the caption) in my documents, and everything
stretches fine across both columns. It turns out that you don't need to
put the image and caption or figure header in a separate paragraph to
make both image and title stretch across both columns.
Here's the trick. Insert a single-cell table on a page with a master
page style that has only one column. Turn on the table title. The table
title will stretch across the whole page. The table cell may not. If
necessary, control-click the table cell to select it and drag the right-
or left-hand borders to the edge of the column, so that the cell is also
frame wide. Now, you have a single-cell table with title that is as wide
as two columns. Set up your Anchor paragraph format in the table cell
(to hold the graphic) and your caption or figure header format in the
table title area. Save the table as a new table format, possibly calling
it "2-column." Now, you can go to any two-column page and insert a table
with "2-column" format and it (and title) will stretch across both
columns automatically.