To achieve the following custom template

Question

Hi all,
I am trying to achieve the following layout for my word report with substantial amount of accompanying images. Pardon me that my enquiry looks like a book. ;-]
1.
- I need a LANDSCAPE orientation with two vertical columns. The columns are of different width, LEFT column takes 3 quarter of page; RIGHT column 1 quarter of page. I wish for this setting to run through out the whole document. [I know how to do this.]
- However, i only intend the LEFT/ 3 quarter column to carry the BODY TEXT, leaving the RIGHT/1 quarter column to carry accompanying IMAGES (they relate to body text next to them, and should MOVE with the body text). Read on and you will know why INLINE in INSPECTOR does not work.
- This means, all my RIGHT column through out the doc is only to be filled with images ONLY IF required by the body text next to them. If there is NO accompanying IMAGE on a page, the RIGHT column is intended to be EMPTY.
- To achieve the above, i tried [BREAK COLUMN]. If i understand correctly, it means after my body text fill up the LEFT column on each page, this setting help me to SKIP the NEXT column, which is always the right column. Correct me if i am wrong because in fact i dont quite get the DIFFERENCES of LAYOUT BREAK, SECTION BREAK, COLUMN BREAK etc.
- But the complicacy came in when my right column is intended for images. The [column break] will push my image to the next column. Or sometimes, to my confusion, it jumble up the whole thing into a mess.
2.
- I then tried an ALTERNATIVE setting. Instead of the above setting, could the following alternative be easier: that i set the right MARGIN to be taking up 1 quarter of the page width, hence leaving the body text to occupy 3 quarter of page.
- I then, drag drop image along the 1 quarter MARGIN? But aren't margin created to be EMPTY ZONE? I have tried dropping images in the margin area and it works, but i am afraid in the end teh whole doc will jumbled up? The images jumps to a random chaos because nothing is supposed to occupy MARGIN?
- In all, i need the body text to flow continuously ONLY on the LEFT column of all pages. And inserted images on right column should move with body text. The above two solutions does not seem correct. And i skim thru the ready-made templates Mac offers, none of them seem to fit either.
What is the best way to do this?
_Y

Answer 1

I think the second solution, with the graphics displayed in the margin, will work better. This way you don't have to keep track of column breaks. The graphics are not actually IN the margin, they are just displaying there. Every graphic is 'anchored' to some point in the text. If it is an 'in-line' graphic the graphic will move along with the anchor point just like a character of text. If it is a 'floating' graphic, it is supposed to keep its relative position on the page regardless of whether the text moves or not.
If your graphics move or jump when you insert a graphic with the the column format, it is probably because you are inserting the column break BEFORE its anchor position. If you turn on "Show Invisibles" you can more easily track where your paragraphs and anchors are.
BTW, the differences among the 'BREAKS' are these:
Layout Break - starts a new SECTION on the same page. It is known in other applications as a Continuous Section Break
Section Break - starts a new SECTION on a new page.
Column Break - ends the current column and starts a new column.
The difference between a new SECTION and a PAGE or COLUMN is that a Section can contain different headers, footers, columns and other layout options than the previous or subsequent sections. A new Page or Column uses the same layout settings as the current Page or Column.
As for why your graphics jump around - I notice many complaints here about graphics moving about whether they are place in-line or as floating objects. I don't use them often enough to offer a solution, but someone else may.
Good luck,
Terry