WT? 2-columns on some pages, how to do it? Where has it gone?

[noob1212121]

Am I going crazy but InDesign had the option of dynamically make certain pages 2 columns?

Now that is no longer supported? Why an earth would that be taken away?

[SJRiegel]

Dynamically? 

You can set margins and columns on master pages, and apply 2-column master to any document page. You can also change the number of columns in any text frame.

What function are you looking for that no longer works?

[noob1212121]

Yes, the panel used to have a place where I could adjust column numbers (for that page only) as 2-columns. Here is my panel now...

[Ian Blogs]

Not sure what panel you are referring to but you can right click on the text and go to 'text frame options'. You can set the number of columns there.

[Laubender]

To see the options for columns with text frames you have to select a text frame.

The Control panel's contents is context sensitive.

Here I have a text frame selected. I could change the numbers of columns immediately without invoking the text frame options:

German InDesign CC 2019 version 14.0.2 on Windows 10.

It would depend on the amount of monitor pixels in width how many tools and controls you see in the Control panel.

Regards,
Uwe

[AnneMarie Concepcion]

What Uwe said. The Control panel changes based on what tool you have and what's selected on the page. To see the "number of columns" field, you have to select a Text frame with the Selection tool. From your screenshot, it appears that you have the Type tool active in some text on the page.

AM

[SJRiegel]

I notice in your screen shot that you have the Character button selected in your control bar. If you select the Paragraph button, you should be able to see the columns control, even with the text tool active.

[noob1212121]

I have posted screenshots of both selections and neither has the column feature...

[Barb Binder]

Please take a moment to work through my first response. You won't have room to show the buttons until you do.

~Barb

[rob day]

I have posted screenshots of both selections and neither has the column feature...

Also, the control panel is customizable via the gear icon in the upper right corner. If your monitor doesn’t have a large enough pixel dimension (+2000 pixel width as Barb noted in her post), then you can customize what icons show:

[noob1212121]

I have customized it (using the text columns) assuming that would somehow show up! NOTE there is plenty of room when I removed the paragraph style - still NADA!

[John Mensinger]

It does look like you have enough space there. The next thing I'd try is resetting preferences.

[rob day]

Or delete your ID Cache folder, which is often the culprit with interface glitches

[John Mensinger]

How did this thread get marked Assumed Answered? I'm not even sure I understand why that feature exists, let alone why someone would invoke it just a day or two into an exchange where the OP is quite clearly still engaged without an acknowledged resolution.

[Barb Binder]

No idea. It's at least the second time.

~Barb

[Barb Binder]

Hi noob1212121:

To quickly change the number of columns for the selected frame, you can use Object > Text Frame Options as per Ian's response, or the Columns button as per Uwe's response.

I think you are looking for the button—Adobe didn't take it away—it just doesn't fit on your screen anymore. Solution one is to buy a larger, HiDPI display, solution two is to make room for it. Note you can enlarge each screen shot by clicking on it.

When I look at your second screen shot above (with the Type tool selected), it ends at the pink arrow I drew on my screen shot below. That means that all of the buttons I outlined in orange aren't fitting on your screen.

When I switch to the Selection tool and select the frame, the column buttons fall outside the pink arrow, and therefore will not be visible on your screen, even after you select the frame with the Selection tool.

To make them fit, click the gear icon on the far right of the Control panel and disable one or more options that appear above Text Frame Options. Click on OK.

Those two options will no longer appear in the Control panel and you will now see the Column buttons:

~Barb

[noob1212121]

Thank you for all responses. I am still learning and the complexity of the Id is overwhelming and when things like this change it just threw me a curve ball. I am not sure how my screen/fonts change to the point of not showing certain buttons but that must be the case.

[Barb Binder]

What version did you upgrade from? The icons got bigger a few versions back to accommodate the newly prevalent HiDPI displays. If you made a leap in versions, that would account for the sudden change.

Otherwise check your display resolution. Set it to the highest possible resolution and see if that allows the buttons come back.

Finally, speaking as a career InDesign trainer, InDesign is very complex. Training helps get you over the steep learning curve more quickly, otherwise just keep asking us questions.

~Barb

[noob1212121]

I am using the app from the creative cloud, assuming I always get the latest version. I have signed up for the udemy online class but have not finished it yet.