You are most likely referring to the use of the starred float variant:
\documentclass{IEEEtran}
\usepackage{algorithm}% http://ctan.org/pkg/algorithms
\usepackage{algpseudocode}% http://ctan.org/pkg/algorithmicx
\usepackage{lipsum}% http://ctan.org/pkg/lipsum
\begin{document}
\section{A section}
\begin{algorithm*}
\caption{Euclid’s algorithm}\label{euclid}
\begin{algorithmic}[1]
\Procedure{Euclid}{$a,b$}\Comment{The g.c.d. of a and b}
\State $r\gets a\bmod b$
\While{$r\not=0$}\Comment{We have the answer if r is 0}
\State $a\gets b$
\State $b\gets r$
\State $r\gets a\bmod b$
\EndWhile\label{euclidendwhile}
\State \textbf{return} $b$\Comment{The gcd is b}
\EndProcedure
\end{algorithmic}
\end{algorithm*}
\lipsum[1-15]% dummy text
\end{document}
The above MWE uses algorithmicx
and algorithm
that provides the algorithm pseudocode presentation. However, you can place the algorithm inside a figure
environment as well. Not sure what the journal might restrict in terms of package usage.
Note that using "one column" floats in a "two column" document usually leads to undesired placement. For one, they will end up at the top by default (unless you use dblfloatfix
), and usually the page after they are inserted (making first-page presentation difficult). See Wide figures in two-column documents on the TeX FAQ.
Here's a version that does not use algorithm
, but instead restyles the figure
floating environment to box its contents (thanks to float
):
\documentclass{IEEEtran}
\usepackage{algpseudocode}% http://ctan.org/pkg/algorithmicx
\usepackage{lipsum}% http://ctan.org/pkg/lipsum
\usepackage{float}% http://ctan.org/pkg/float
\floatstyle{boxed} % Box...
\restylefloat{figure}% ...figure environment contents.
\begin{document}
\section{A section}
\begin{figure*}
\caption{Euclid’s algorithm}\label{euclid}
\begin{algorithmic}[1]
\Procedure{Euclid}{$a,b$}\Comment{The g.c.d. of a and b}
\State $r\gets a\bmod b$
\While{$r\not=0$}\Comment{We have the answer if r is 0}
\State $a\gets b$
\State $b\gets r$
\State $r\gets a\bmod b$
\EndWhile\label{euclidendwhile}
\State \textbf{return} $b$\Comment{The gcd is b}
\EndProcedure
\end{algorithmic}
\end{figure*}
\lipsum[1-15]% dummy text
\end{document}
lipsum
provided some dummy text.
\documentclass
and the appropriate packages so that those trying to help don't have to recreate it. This will also serve as a test case and ensure that the solution actually works for you.