formattingpackagessectioningtablestwo-column
So, I've been trying to insert a table so that it spans only one column into my two column document. It partially works, however it creates a large space in the other column for a reason I can't seem to figure out. A screenshot is shown below. I'm currently using the \twocolumn package. However, I'm not sure whether this or \multicols would work better with figures and tables. Any help would be appreciated.
Without a MWE that reproduces the problem, it is difficult to know exactly what is going wrong for you. However, perhaps this will help. The result of this is that the figure appears on the top of Page 2, followed by the table as per your screen capture, but the columns work for me. As far as I can tell, this is corresponds to the position of the figure/table where you have the issue.
If this does not directly help to solve your problem, perhaps you can use this as guide in an attempt to reproduce your exact issue. Note that the lipsum package just for dummy text, and the [demo] option to graphicx package is used so that I can compile this without your actual figures.
\documentclass{IEEEtran}
\usepackage[demo]{graphicx}% Note: [demo] option used. Remove for actual used
\usepackage{subfig}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\begin{document}
\lipsum[1-9]% adjusted to get figure onto top of next page
\begin{figure*}[!t]
\centerline{\subfloat[cap1]{\includegraphics[width=3.5in]{img/img1}\label{fig:label1}}
\hfil
\subfloat[cap2]{\includegraphics[width=3.5in]{img/img2}\label{fig:label2}}}
\caption{Caption}
\label{fig:L}
\end{figure*}
%
\begin{table}[htbp]
\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{ |p{20mm}|p{5mm}|p{5mm}|p{5mm}|p{4mm}|p{20mm}|}
\cline{2-4}
\multicolumn{1}{l|}{} & \multicolumn{3}{|c|}{\bf A} & \multicolumn{2}{|l}{} \\
\hline
{\bf E} & {\bf R} & {\bf N} & {\bf A} & {\bf \#F} & {\bf \% L} \\
\hline
A & $51.35$ & $90.28$ & $70.82$ & - & $0$ \\ \hline
B 1/1 & $67.05$ & $82.45$ & $74.75$ & $3$ & $25.88$ \\ \hline
C 2/3 & $71.47$ & $79.84$ & $75.66$ & $2$ & $26.12$ \\ \hline
D 3/5 & $64.54$ & $80.75$ & $72.64$ & $1$ & $27.56$ \\ \hline
E & $72.17$ & $78.59$ & $75.38$ & $2$ & $100$ \\ \hline
F &$72.12$ & $84.45$ & $78.28$ & - & $19.23$ \\ \hline
G & $81.60$ & $83.54$ & $82.57$ & - & $100$ \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{c1}
\label{tab:c1}
\begin{tabular}{ |p{20mm}|p{5mm}|p{5mm}|p{5mm}|p{4mm}|p{20mm}|}
\cline{2-4}
\multicolumn{1}{l|}{} & \multicolumn{3}{|c|}{\bf A} & \multicolumn{2}{|l}{} \\
\hline
{\bf E} & {\bf R} & {\bf N} & {\bf A} & {\bf \#F} & {\bf \% L} \\
\hline
A & $59.22$ & $69.21$ & $64.22$ & - & $0$ \\ \hline
B 1/1 & $73.84$ & $72.53$ & $73.18$ & $2$ & $23.58$ \\ \hline
C 2/3 & $71.05$ & $66.26$ & $68.66$ & $1$ & $14.09$ \\ \hline
D 3/5 & $67.44$ & $76.05$ & $71.74$ & $0$ & $16.13$ \\ \hline
E & $58.29$ & $71.44$ & $64.86$ & $0$ & $100$ \\ \hline
F & $72.33$ & $69.88$ & $71.11$ & - & $20.24$ \\ \hline
G & $78.08$ & $75.50$ & $76.79$ & - & $100$ \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{c2}
\label{tab:c2}
\end{center}
\end{table}
%
\lipsum[1-8]% Add dummy text following table to ensure it is properly placed
\end{document}
The document multiple-span.txt explains how to use wrapfig with two-column cutouts. Three little examples showing the layout od the image in the question and two other possible configurations:
\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{wrapfig}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\vspace*{18\baselineskip}Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci \begin{wrapfigure}[19]{l}[\dimexpr\columnwidth+\columnsep\relax]{12cm}
\includegraphics[width=12cm,height=16\baselineskip]{example-image-a}
\caption{This is a wrapfigurein a two-column cutout}
\end{wrapfigure}et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.\lipsum[1-5]
\end{document}
\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{wrapfig}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\lipsum[2]\begin{wrapfigure}[18]{r}[\dimexpr\columnwidth+\columnsep\relax]{12cm}
\includegraphics[width=12cm,height=16\baselineskip]{example-image-a}
\end{wrapfigure}
\lipsum[1-2]Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla.\vspace{18\baselineskip} Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
\end{document}
\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{wrapfig}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\begin{document}
\lipsum[2]\begin{wrapfigure}[18]{r}[\dimexpr.5\width+.5\columnsep\relax]{8cm}
\includegraphics[width=8cm,height=16\baselineskip]{example-image-a}
\end{wrapfigure}
\lipsum[1-2]Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et\begin{wrapfigure}[18]{l}[\dimexpr.5\width+.5\columnsep\relax]{8cm}
\vfill
\end{wrapfigure} magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
Nam dui ligula, fringilla a, euismod sodales, sollic-
itudin vel, wisi. Morbi auctor lorem non justo. Nam
lacus libero, pretium at, lobortis vitae, ultricies et,
tellus. Donec aliquet, tortor sed accumsan biben-
dum, erat ligula aliquet magna, vitae ornare odio
metus a mi. Morbi ac orci et nisl hendrerit mollis.
Suspendisse ut massa. Cras nec ante. Pellentesque
a nulla. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis
parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Aliquam
tincidunt urna. Nulla ullamcorper vestibulum turpis.
Pellentesque cursus luctus mauris.
\end{document}
The document contains detailed instructions for the procedure. This approach requires manual intervention, so this should be done once the document is close to its final version.
Best Answer
Use
tablefor single column floats andtable*for double column floats.