How can I get consistent vertical spacing between \multicols{3} and \multicols{1}?

Question

As you can see in the image, the vertical spacing is inconsistent.

I would like to avoid hacking my way into simulating the spacing that multicol uses.

If I use \multicols{1}, I get the warning:

Package multicol Warning: Using `1' columns doesn't seem a good idea. I therefore use two columns instead on input line 20.

What is a good way to get symmetric vertical spacing in this example?

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multicol,times}

\begin{document}

\hrule
\begin{multicols}{3}
    \centering {\bfseries Title 1} \\
    \centering Description 1 \\
\columnbreak
    \centering {\bfseries Title 2} \\
    \centering Description 2 \\
\columnbreak
    \centering {\bfseries Title 3} \\
    \centering Description 3
\end{multicols}
\hrule
% \begin{multicols}{1}
    \centering {\bfseries Title 4} \\
    \centering Description 4
% \end{multicols}
\hrule
\begin{multicols}{2}
    \centering {\bfseries Title 5} \\
    \centering Description 5 \\
\columnbreak
    \centering {\bfseries Title 6} \\
    \centering Description 5
\end{multicols}
\hrule

\end{document}

Answer 1

The following provides a consistent spacing - you have to make to use the same code for vertical spacing:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tabularx}% http://ctan.org/pkg/tabularx
\newcolumntype{Y}{>{\centering\arraybackslash}X}

%----------
% Sections
%----------
\newcommand{\mysec}[2][2]{%
  \LARGE\noindent\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{*{#1}{Y}}
    #2
  \end{tabularx}%
  \bigskip
}

\newcommand{\mysubsec}[2][3]{
  \Large\noindent\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{*{#1}{Y}}
    #2
  \end{tabularx}%
  \medskip
}

\newcommand{\mysubsubsec}[2][4]{
  \small\noindent\begin{tabularx}{\textwidth}{*{#1}{Y}}
    #2
  \end{tabularx}%
  \smallskip
}

\begin{document}

\mysec{\bfseries Heading}

\mysubsec{\bfseries Subheading 1}

\mysubsubsec[3]{%
  {\bfseries Title 1} \par Description 1 &
  {\bfseries Title 2} \par Description 2 &
  {\bfseries Title 3} \par Description 3
}

\mysubsec{\bfseries Subheading 2}

\mysubsubsec{%
  {\bfseries Title 4} \par Description 4
}

\mysubsec{\bfseries Subheading 3}

\mysubsubsec[2]{%
  {\bfseries Title 5} \par Description 5 &
  {\bfseries Title 6} \par Description 6
}

\end{document}​

I've used a full-width tabularx which puts a number of Y-columns (defined as centred X-columns). \mysec is followed by \bigskip, \mysubsec by \medskip and \mysubsubsec by \smallskip. This provides some form of consistency. You could use the same for all.

---

If you want to stick to multicol, using a 3-column layout for the 1-column usage is also possible:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multicol}% http://ctan.org/pkg/multicol

\begin{document}

\noindent\hrulefill\smallskip
\begin{multicols}{3}
  \centering {\bfseries Title 1} \par
  Description 1 \par
  \columnbreak
  {\bfseries Title 2} \par
  Description 2 \par
  \columnbreak
  {\bfseries Title 3} \par
  Description 3
\end{multicols}
\smallskip\noindent\hrulefill\smallskip
\begin{multicols}{3}
  \mbox{} \par \mbox{} \par
  \columnbreak
  \centering {\bfseries Title 4} \par
  Description 4
\end{multicols}
\smallskip\noindent\hrulefill\smallskip
\begin{multicols}{2}
  \centering {\bfseries Title 5} \par
  Description 5 \par
  \columnbreak
  {\bfseries Title 6} \par
  Description 5
\end{multicols}
\smallskip\noindent\hrulefill

\end{document}​