TypeText Markup -- Columns
===================
Christian Augustin
2011-07-23
en-US
2011-12-02 Draft (stable)

~~~~
Some content is best shown side by side, i.e. for comparison or to show equivalent options. Or to tightly couple images with accompanying text besides a figure caption.

Therefor the :columns: described here are more like "table columns", not "free flowing columns" (which are much harder to handle and implement).

These table-like columns can be seen as content layout modules, while "classic" flowing columns are more like page layout modules.
~~~~

????
TODO:
Description of main content area, sidebar and full width.
????



-----------------------------------------
Basic Column Module

The basic column markup is a line of at least 4 colons, the column content is followed by the column separator (a line with at least 4 equal signs), and the last column is terminated by a line with at least 4 semicolons:

  :::::::::::::::::

  This would be the content of the first column.

  =================

  This would be the content of the second column.

  =================

  This would be the content of the third column.

  ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

All separators have to be surrounded by empty lines!

The basic column module can have 2, 3 or 4 columns of equal width (if no width modifiers are used). Depending on the used converter and target system, more columns can be provided.


-----------------------------------------
Column Width Modifiers

The column widths can be modified on the basic column module to gain more flexibility:

  :::: 1/3
  
  This column has 1/3 of the content width.

  ====

  This columns has 2/3 of the content width.

  ;;;;

Or e.g. reversed:

  ::::

  This column has 3/4th of the content width.

  ==== 1/4

  This column has 1/4th of the content width.

  ;;;;

A column without width modifier has a width to fill the content width.

The following width modifiers can be used:

-  1/2
-  1/3
-  2/3
-  1/4
-  3/4

The width 2/4 is essentially 1/2 and is to be given as that. Columns can be fully specified in width, but then the sum of column widths can result in a smaller or broader layout as the content width.



-----------------------------------------
Full Width Module

   <<<<>>>>

   This text flow will have the greatest possible
   width that can be used by content.

   :::: main

   This has the width of the main flow.
   (A single column columns container.)

   ;;;;

   :::: main

   This has the width of the main flow.

   ====

   This is the sidebar area.

   ;;;;

   <<<<>>>>