Moving between the columns within a text box

[HGDC]

In InDesign it is possible to move between the columns buy using the 'Enter' key.

Meaning you can type a paragraph in column 1 and pressing the enter key will start the paragraph on the next column.

Is there a way of doing this in Affinity Publisher Beta either by key shortcut or by menu?

Thanks in advance. 

[walt.farrell]

Welcome to the Serif Affinity forums.

Pressing Enter would just start a new paragraph, in the same column if there's room.

Try, from the menu, Text > Insert > Breaks > Column Break. There's no shortcut for that by default (on Windows, at least) but you can assign one of your own using the Preferences dialog, Keyboard Shortcuts, Text.

[fde101]

In the Text Frame panel, under Columns, try checking "Balance text in columns" and see if that gives you what you are looking for?

 

After playing with that option though, it would be nice if the option to "Keep paragraph together" (Paragraph -> Flow Options) actually kept the paragraph together in the same column and not just on the same page...

[HGDC]

Thanks, Walt. It was exactly what I was looking for; although I've seen the insert/breaks/column break, when I tried they were all greyed out and I dismissed it as being inactive in the beta version. Maybe it was something to do with filler text – seems impossible to edit. Thanks again.  

[Old Bruce]

1 hour ago, HGDC said:

Maybe it was something to do with filler text – seems impossible to edit. Thanks again.  

Go to your Preferences > General and tick the box about Filler Text as Text.

[HGDC]

Thank you, Old Bruce. That solves the problem. Bit of a rhetorical question; why there is the 'other' version?   

[MikeW]

7 minutes ago, HGDC said:

...why there is the 'other' version?   

The non-static filler text is nice during a design because whether you make the text frame larger, add columns, etc., it will always be filled. Once filled, you can also right-click over it and choose Expand Field. This makes it static filler text.

Mike

[Old Bruce]

7 minutes ago, HGDC said:

Bit of a rhetorical question; why there is the 'other' version?   

I think so you can flow text from one text frame to the next later on after making the first and filling it with Filler Text. Using "as Text" just gives you a full text frame's worth of text, if you decrease the font's size the Filler Text no longer fills the text Frame. I just use a very long text file for those situations where I need lots and lots of text.

[Old Bruce]

Just now, MikeW said:

... choose Expand Field. This makes it static filler text.

Mike

Wow, thanks for that tip ninja @MikeW

[HGDC]

Thank you, all that replied. It was all very educational and informative replies.