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I am writing a long document with memoir class and multicol package, mostly writing in 2 columns. I am trying to insert a framed text that spans across the two columns, but does not break the flow of text inside the columns. I can end the multicol, insert my framed text, and re-enter the multicol, but it breaks the flow of the text -- as in this answer.

Here is an image of what I am trying to achieve: enter image description here

The text flows from 1's to 4's. The text of A's in the middle does not break the 1-4 flow. Is it possible to do so with multicol?

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  • This is possible with flowfram. To be clear, The 1's flow from top-left to top-right, then bottom-left to bottom-right? And the 2's are fully independent from the entire text (just a bunch of "something else")?
    – Werner
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:05
  • Yeah, it would be nice to have 11111 222222 333333 444444 and AAAAA (for the added text, unless it's really a part of the main text).
    – yo'
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:23
  • Werner, actually, I want the text to flow from top-left to bottom left, then resume at top-right and end on bottom-right. Yes, the middle framed text is independent of the rest. I edited the question so that it reflects more clearly what I am trying to achieve. Thanks!
    – m0squito
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:48
  • This question no longer applies because the previous comment was edited to correct the issue.
    – cfr
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:53
  • Yes, I meant the A's are independent - I just corrected it.
    – m0squito
    Dec 10, 2013 at 21:54

1 Answer 1

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Please always supply a test document.

This is easy if you are prepared to add some space manually in the second column.

enter image description here

The wide text is just placed naturally in the first column together with some negative space so that it overprints the second column. then you just need to add a \vspace to leave a gap.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{multicol}

\def\a{1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 }
\def\b{2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 }
\def\c{3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 }
\def\d{4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 }
\def\aa{\a\a\par 11 11 \a\a\a\a\par 11 11 11\a 11 11 1 1 \a\a}
\def\bb{\b\b\b\par 22 22 222 \b\b\b\b\b\par\b\b\b\b\b\b}
\def\cc{\c\c\c\c\c\c\par\c 3\c3\c3\c3\c3\c3}
\def\dd{\d\d\d\d\par\d444\d}

\begin{document}
\begin{multicols}{2}

\aa\a\aa\a

\smallskip
\noindent\fbox{\parbox{\dimexpr\textwidth-2\fboxsep\relax}{%
\def\A{A A A A\dotfill A A A A\dotfill}
\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A\A}}\kern-\textwidth
\par\smallskip

\bb\b\bb\b

\cc

\vspace{1.8cm}

\c\cc

\dd\dd\dd\dd\dd\dd

\end{multicols}
\end{document}
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  • David, thank you for your answer! It's okay for a single case, although I had to spend some time to figure out the right spacing when the page is not full. I wish there was a generic way of doing it. Nevertheless, your answer will certainly help for now -thanks!
    – m0squito
    Dec 11, 2013 at 4:30

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