# Pagewide (single column) footnote in double column document

I am trying to write a long equation in footnote in a double column document (IEEEtran) similar to the attached image. I have tried using "multicols" command but the footnote is starting from the right column and extending out of the page.

I have also tried including the equation in float environment but in that case the figure is placed in the next page and not in the page where I want it be, even though there is enough space.

• Welcome to TeX.SX! Please help us to help you and add a minimal working example (MWE) that illustrates your problem. It will be much easier for us to reproduce your situation and find out what the issue is when we see compilable code, starting with \documentclass{...} and ending with \end{document}. Two comments: (1) if you're going to submit it to an IEEE journal/conf, they'll frown upon any solution we give you. (2) I don't think that such a large formula should ever be in a footnote. – yo' Nov 12 '14 at 10:55

It seems 1-in-2.sty can do the job, which can be used for One-Column Abstract and Footnote in the Two-Column Documents. It has the function:

\mathfootnote{..}


A minimal working example:

\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{1-in-2}

\title{Title}
%
\author{Author}

\begin{document}

\maketitle

\section{A section}

Blablabla.

An example
\begin{quote}\begin{verbatim}
\mathfootnote{%
$$\left\{\begin{array}{c} x \\ ... ..........$$}
\end{verbatim}\end{quote}

\newcommand{\fat}[1]{\mbox{\boldmath{$#1$}}}
\mathfootnote{
$$\left\{\begin{array}{c} x \\ y \\ z \end{array}\right\}= \left(\begin{array}{ccc} a+b/r & c-d/s & e/f-g \\ & h+k/t & m/n+p \\ \multicolumn{2}{l}{\mbox{Symm.}} & q-u/v \end{array}\right) \left\{\begin{array}{c} \alpha \\ \beta \\ \gamma \end{array}\right\}, \qquad\mbox{or}\qquad \fat{x}=\fat{C}\,\fat{\lambda}\label{eq:foot}$$}

\begin{center} [Eq.(\ref{eq:foot}) is in the footnote.] \end{center}
where $\alpha$ and $\cdots$.

\end{document}


The output:

• Interesting package. I'd suggest \bm{x} (requires the bm package) instead of the clumsy \fat macro. – egreg Jul 22 '17 at 7:21

You can try using a float. I used a similar construction with \twocolumn and it worked fairly well even though it takes more effort to get the float in the right position on the right page then simply using the footnote option. Keep in mind that you need to have float defined in the right place. Try putting it ahead of at least most of your main text.

\usepackage{float}
\newfloat{footnote}{hb}

\begin{document}

text

\begin{footnote*}[hb!]
footnote text
\end{footnote*}

rest of text

\end(document}


It is even simpler if you use multicol instead of the standard twocolumn. Simply end multicols at the end of your main section and put your page wide below that.

\usepackage{float}
\newfloat{footnote}{hb}
\usepackage{multicol}

\begin{document}

\begin{multicols}{2}
text
\end{multicol}

\begin{footnote*}[hb!]
footnote text
\end{footnote*}

\begin(multicols}{2}
rest of text
\end{multicols}

\end(document}