Bob. I guess I wasn't clear enough. IF I use 'text boxes' everything flows perfectly (although I am not an expert on linking either and have had some problems figguring out the rules for getting each box linked to its predessor). But that is not my question. I was hoping to learn how to easily (rapidly?) create multiple, equal 'text boxes' to allow this flow. OR how to get regular columns, even on the first page to behave something like 'text boxes'. On the second and following pages, they do infact respond that way, with text flowing naturally from column to column. But on the first page which does have some carridge returns to keep banners and icons in place (and could indeed induce strange text effects as you suggest, although I don't think that is actually what is happening) the two column formatting from the second page will incroach into the bottom of the first page; or the outlined box on the first page moves down to the second page. In other words, some of the formatting on each page moves up or down as text is added or removed.

Many years ago, I had a upsetting, disagreement with a close family member. That night I wrote a long, rambling letter bringing up every thing this person did from the beginning of time. I was upset and, maybe its a female thing, I wrote this ridiculously long letter using Word so I could password protect it. I had thought I would sleep on it and reread it the next day before sending. I didn't want to send an email. Well, needless to say, the next day the problem resolved. Everything was wonderful, I totally forgot about the letter. Long time later (maybe a year), I'm cleaning out my computer and find this cryptic Word doc that I couldn't open. I was deleting a bunch of junk. Then, I remembered that letter ! It was not something I would want on my computer (as life with this person was wonderful). So, I tried to delete it, couldn't. Needed a password. Had no idea what that could be. I was upset when written and heaven knows what I came up with. That letter still sits on this computer. I could never figure out the password. Back then, I thought I would have a new computer (this one is XP) and I would wipe the drive. Well I'm still using this machine and hope I can finally wipe it out and get a new machine. On another note, I worked in the medical field for years. Sometimes I would write letters for patients from home (rather than the office computer) in the evening to save time at work. I would password those letters, copy them on a flash drive and taken them to work. Copy to the work machine then delete from the flash and the home machine. Not ideal, probably not the best thing to do, but I did it. Any patient letters were always password protected. I sympathize with the OP as I've been there many times. If I did that now, I would write the password down. I didn't back then and never found a way to open that personal letter. I'll wait for Windows 10 then wipe this drive. Hope you find a way, Jane

Kayjones--Here's how to make a column of text lined up at the left and right sides, with dots between the words (like shown above): Type your first word Click the tab setting button (way at the left of the ruler) until it looks like a backwards L. Click on the ruler bar at the position you want the tab to be to line up the text at the right side. (The tab is set at 2 1/2" in my example above.) Go to Format, Tabs on the drop-down menus. You'll see the 2.5" tab shown in the list of tab stop positions at the left. Under Leader, click the number 2 option, with the dots. Click Set. Then click OK. On your document, press the tab key. The cursor will move to the tab position and dots will appear in between. Type the word(s) you want in the right "column." The words will move to the left as you type, aligning the text at the right side where the tab is. Press enter to type the next line. It will keep the same tab setting. If the words on the right side are getting too close to the words on the left, highlight all the lines of text, then click on the tab in the ruler bar and slide it to the right to where you want it. (When you hover your mouse near it, it will pop up "Right Tab"; when you click on the tab setting, a dotted line will appear showing where the text will be aligned.) Or, go to Format, Tabs, and add the new tab setting, click the #2 dotted leader option, press set; highlight the old tab, press clear, press OK when done. (Sliding it on the ruler is faster.)

method 1- Select the text box, (hatch marks will appear when box is selected)>right click on the hatch marks>format text box. In Format Text Box dialog box>colours and lines tab>under line color-select 'no line'. method 2- bring up the drawing toolbar, view>toolbars>drawing>find the line color icon, click on the down arrow and select 'no line' from there. Just so you know for next time, your question might be better posted on the computer help forum. I believe there is a link to it at the top of this forum page. Hope this helped you, and hello to Sapphires.