When I do: \setupcolumns[n=2,balance=no,tolerance=verytolerant,rule=on] % and variations \startext \startcolumns abc \column def \stopcolumns \stoptext This produces two columns when typeset on the upper half of the page. Suddenly about halfway the page the columns are not put side by side but below each other! Is this something known are am I becoming mad? Hans van der Meer