Text frames, columns, and overflow

Follow these steps

1. 1

   Change width from a side

   EditorCanvas

   Drag the left or right side handle to change the frame width. The font size stays the same and lines wrap to fit. A text block with automatic height continues to grow with its content.

2. 2

   Set height or scale the text

   EditorCanvas

   Dragging the top or bottom edge sets a fixed height and can clip text that does not fit. A corner handle scales font size and letter spacing with the box. To make room for more text without enlarging the letters, increase height from an edge handle.

   Shrinking from a corner can put text below the readability target. Check its size afterward.

3. 3

   Set columns

   PropertiesFrame

   Set the column count from 1 to 6. Gap controls the distance between columns. Return the count to 1 for a single column. Too many columns in a narrow frame can cause awkward wrapping and overflow.

4. 4

   Set padding

   PropertiesFrame

   Padding is the space between the text and the frame edges. Increasing it leaves less space for content. Use vertical alignment to position the text at the top, middle, or bottom.

5. 5

   Resolve overflow

   EditorCanvas

   Look for the red overflow indicator at the lower-right corner of clipped text. Enlarge the frame from an edge, reduce unnecessary padding, or shorten the content. Making the font smaller should not be your only solution.

   The indicator is not a button for flowing text into another frame. Clipping hides overflowing content without deleting it. Enlarge the box and check the complete final line.

6. 6

   Check the result

   EditorPreflight

   Recheck overflow after changing the font, size, columns, or content. Review text-overflow findings in Preflight, then inspect the final lines in the reader view and the output you intend to use.

Related lessons

• Apply text effects
• Text