WD: Using Keyboard to Move Between Newspaper-Style Columns

ID: Q98221

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a

SUMMARY

This article describes how to move the insertion from one column to the next or previous column in a multiple-column Microsoft Word document using the keyboard.

NOTE: You must be in Page Layout View (on the View menu, click Page Layout) to see columns.

MORE INFORMATION

When you insert columns in a Word document, Word inserts newspaper-style columns. That is, the text in a column flows from the bottom of one column to the top of the next column.

To move the insertion point from one column to the next or previous column, use the keyboard keys as described in the following table. When you move the insertion point using shortcut keys, Word will move the insertion point to the top of the next or previous column.

   To move on the same page    in Windows, press    on the Macintosh, press
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   To the next column          ALT+DOWN ARROW       OPTION+DOWN ARROW

   To the previous column      ALT+UP ARROW         OPTION+UP ARROW

NOTE: Even though you may have formatted your document to have two (or more) columns, the second (or more) columns will not exist and the shortcut keys to move to the next or previous column may not work until there is enough text in your document to wrap into the column or until you insert a column break. To insert a column break, on the Insert menu, click Break, select Column Break and then click OK.

For more information about using other shortcut keys in Word, please see one of the following:

Word 2.0 for Windows

Click Help Index on the Help menu, click Search in Word Help, type the following text

   shortcut keys

and then double-click the selected text to go to the topic you need.

Word 6.0 for Windows

Click "Search for Help on" on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Microsoft Word Help, type the following text

   shortcut keys, using

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Word" topic.

Word for Windows 95 (7.0)

Click Microsoft Word Help Topic on the Help menu, click the Index tab in Microsoft Word Help, type the following text

   shortcut keys, built-in

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Shortcut keys" topic.

Word 6.0 for the Macintosh

Click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Search button in Word Help, type the following text

   shortcut keys, using

and then click Show Topics. Select the topic you need, and click Go To.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, page 446

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, page 404

"Microsoft Word for Windows Pocket Guide," version 1.x, page 92

Additional query words: top navigate navigation shortcut direction docerr scrolling snaked snaking newspaper moving switch switching position positioning arrows keys cursor keystroke

Keywords          : kbusage winword macword word6 winword2 word7 word95 macword6 word 
Version           : WINDOWS: 1.x, 2.x, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c, 7.0, 7.0a; MACINTOSH: 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: September 10, 1998