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Could someone please tell me which search terms I should use for this query? I have used the terms in the subject line, but I think this might not be the correct name for what I am trying to do.

My job is to translate a five-page, dual-column document from language X to language Y. When I have the Y translation, I need to produce a document with the X text on the left and the Y text on the right. To complicate matters, the finished document has an automatic header and footer on each page.

The only way I know of doing this is by putting a page break at the end of every one of the five pages (which will, of course, end up being ten pages) and using the standard dual-column method for each page. However, if there is a different way, I don't know what it is called so I cannot find it by searching for it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Changed subject, was Merging two documents into two columns  Make your post understandable by others  -- MrProgrammer, forum moderator

Set up a table and place each paragraph of the original in the first column and its translation in the second column beside it.

This tutorial may help

[Tutorial] Using translations/commentary in Writer

Another way would be to use text frames - they can be positioned anywhere and set so the text flows continuously through them. You could use one half frames as in the attached document or frames for both.

A problem with text frames, or with columns, is that almost any edit on one side or the other can throw the sequence out of alignment.

Yeah, it'll all depend on how closely the translation has to follow the original.

The table method involves breaking up the document into table rows. Unless the translation and original are close to the same length then there are going to have to be space gaps in the shortest so they can be kept in sync.

Its possible to anchor frames to the paragraph and not make the text flow through. So each bit of original has a bit of translation in a separate frame alongside it. Fiddly though.

Its also possible to use sections with 2 columns so successive bits of original and translation each have their own section - as in the attached document. Section backgrounds colored to show they are different sections.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm trying the version with tables.

Do any of you know why, when I was editing the 21-paragraph document, some of the paragraph numbers mysteriously stopped being in bold? I can't find a way of turning them back from normal.

Its going to be difficult for anyone to answer that. If you post a part document showing the problem (containing no sensitive information) you might get a better response.

Therein lies the problem, as client confidentiality means I can only give a description of the issue rather than give a concrete illustration of it.

How to upload a file has suggestions for anonymising confidential information.

DavidGYoung wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 7:02 pm Thanks for the suggestions. I'm trying the version with tables.

Do any of you know why, when I was editing the 21-paragraph document, some of the paragraph numbers mysteriously stopped being in bold? I can't find a way of turning them back from normal.

If the numbering was applied in the normal way, right-click one of the numbered paragraphs and select Numbering/Bullets. Select the Options tab on the Bullets and Numbering dialog. Select the affected outline level. If the "Character Style" is set to "None", then the paragraph numbers should have the same font as the paragraph text. Set the "Character Style" to "Strong Emphasis". This should make the paragraph numbers bold without changing the paragraph text font.