How to Set Selected Text into Columns in LibreOffice Writer (Without Affecting the Whole Document)
When formatting documents in LibreOffice Writer, you may want only a specific portion of text—such as content on page 1—to appear in multiple columns. This is common when creating newsletters, brochures or structured reports.
The good news: you can apply columns to selected text only, without changing the layout of the entire document.
Here’s the simplest method.
Step-by-Step: Apply Columns to Selected Text Only
1. Select the Text
Highlight the portion of text you want to display in columns.
Important: Make sure the text is selected before changing column settings. Otherwise, the change may apply more broadly than intended.
2. Open the Columns Dialog
Go to the top menu: Format → Columns
(හැඩසවිය → තීරු)
3. Choose the Number of Columns
In the Columns dialog box:
- Select 1, 2 or 3 columns
- Adjust spacing between columns if needed
- Optionally add a separator line
- Click OK
LibreOffice will automatically insert section breaks before & after your selected text. This ensures only the highlighted portion appears in columns.
What Happens Behind the Scenes?
When you apply columns to selected text, LibreOffice creates a temporary section for that portion. This keeps the rest of the document unchanged & maintains formatting stability.
You don’t need to manually insert section breaks unless you want advanced control.
Common Mistake to Avoid
If the entire page changes into columns, it likely means:
- No text was selected before applying columns
- Page Style columns were modified instead
Page Style settings affect the entire page layout, not just selected text.
When to Use This Method
This method works well for:
- Newsletters
- Magazine-style layouts
- Highlighted summaries
- Multi-column introductions
- Side-by-side comparisons
It’s quick, clean & does not disturb the rest of your document structure.
Final Thoughts
Applying columns to selected text in LibreOffice Writer is straightforward when you follow the correct steps:
- Select the text
- Go to Format → Columns
- Choose your layout
That’s all you need.
Simple formatting choices like this can make your documents look more professional without adding complexity to your workflow.