How to Create Columns Above and Below a Table in WPS Writer
Question details
The user needs to format a WPS Writer document so that text above and below a full-width table appears in two columns, while the table itself remains full-width across the page.
- Product
- WPS Office Writer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a document layout with two-column text sections separated by a middle full-width table.
- Observed behavior
- The desired layout is two-column text before and after a full-width middle section, without affecting the table width.
Ensure your document uses the page layout you want to preserve, and identify the exact paragraphs before and after the table where columns should begin and end.
Use Continuous Section Breaks to Switch Between Two Columns and Full Width
Use this method when you need precise control and want the upper and lower sections in two columns while keeping the table full-width.
Continuous section breaks let you change the number of columns for part of a page without starting a new page, which keeps the table on the same page as the surrounding text.
In WPS Writer, click after the last character of the paragraph that should remain in two columns, immediately before the table.
On the Layout tab, click Breaks and select Continuous to start the full-width section before the table.
Click at the beginning of the first paragraph after the table.
Go to Layout > Breaks > Continuous to end the full-width section before the following text.
Click inside the section above the first break, go to Layout > Columns, and choose Two.
Click inside the section after the second break, go to Layout > Columns, and choose Two.
Click inside the middle section, go to Layout > Columns, and select One so the table remains full-width.
Use a Wrapped Table as the Full-Width Middle Section
Use this alternative when the document layout is complex or you prefer to avoid inserting section breaks manually.
Use WPS Writer to Create Columns Above and Below a Full-Width Table
In WPS Writer, use continuous section breaks to change the number of columns for specific sections of a page. You can keep the middle table section full-width and apply two-column layouts above and below it without losing formatting.
- 1. Open your Word-compatible document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office, click Writer, then open the .docx file you need to format.
- 2. Insert a continuous section break before the table: Click at the end of the last paragraph above the table, then click Layout > Breaks > Continuous.
- 3. Insert a continuous section break after the table: Place the cursor at the beginning of the first paragraph after the table and click Layout > Breaks > Continuous.
- 4. Apply two columns to the upper and lower sections: Select the upper section, click Layout > Columns > Two, then repeat for the lower section.
- 5. Keep the table section as one column: Click inside the middle section and set Columns > One if needed, so the table remains full-width.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create columns above and below a table without manual page breaks?
Yes. Use continuous section breaks instead of next-page breaks; they let you change column formatting on the same page.
Why does my table split when I apply columns in WPS Writer?
Check that the table is in its own single-column section. Insert continuous section breaks immediately before and after the table, then leave that section set to one column.
Does this method work when the document is saved as a .docx?
Yes. WPS Writer preserves section breaks and column settings when you save as Word .docx, so the layout remains visible in Microsoft Word.
Can I use a wrapped table instead of section breaks?
In complex layouts, select the table, open Table Properties, set text wrapping to Around, and apply columns to the surrounding text. Section breaks are usually more reliable for simple alternating sections.
How do I remove a continuous section break if the layout is wrong?
Turn on formatting marks, click the section break mark, and press Delete. Then reapply the break before or after the table as needed.
