Creating rows and columns of text


    The Area Type Options dialog box lets you create rows and columns while maintaining the shape of the type area.You can specify the precise height, width, and gutter size between text blocks and change the way in which text flows (from left to right or right to left for both vertical and horizontal text).

    Area type with a single row and column of text (left) compared to area type with multiple rows and columns of text (right)
    Area type with a single row and column of text (left) compared to area type with multiple rows and columns of text (right)

To create rows and columns:

  1. Select an area type object. (See Selecting type objects.)
  2. Choose Type > Area Type Options.
  3. In the Rows and Columns sections of the dialog box, set the following options:
    • Number to specify the number of rows and columns you want the object to contain.
    • Span to specify the height of individual rows and the width of individual columns.
    • Fixed to determine what happens to the span of rows and columns if you resize the type area. When this option is selected, resizing the area can change the number of rows and columns, but not their width. Leave this option deselected if you want row and column widths to change when you resize the type area.
    Illustration of Options for resizing rows and columns with these callouts: A. Original columns B. Columns resized with Fixed selected C. Columns resized with Fixed deselected
    Options for resizing rows and columns A. Original columns B. Columns resized with Fixed selected C. Columns resized with Fixed deselected
    • Gutter to specify the distance between rows or columns.
  4. In the Options section of the dialog box, select a Text Flow option to determine how text flows between rows and columns: By Rows Flow by Row icon or By Columns Flow by column icon .
  5. Click OK.