Ensuring single-column [t] and double-column [b] floats appear on the same page

[Kumaresh Paramasivan (TNQ Software)]

Hello Everyone,

I am using a *twocolumn* document with the *stfloats* package. My goal is
to place a single-column float at the top (figure[t]) and a double-column
float at the bottom (figure*[b]) and have them both appear on the same page
(specifically, the page immediately after they are defined).

I am encountering inconsistent behavior:

1. *Problem Case:* When I define Figures 1 ([t]) and 2 ([b]) on Page 1,
they get separated. Figure 1 lands on Page 2, but Figure 2 is delayed until
Page 3.
2. *Working Case:* When I define an identical pair (Figures 3 and 4) later
in the document (on Page 3), they behave exactly as I want: both appear on
Page 4. How can I force the first pair (Figures 1 & 2) to behave like the
second pair (Figures 3 & 4) and appear together on Page 2?

My main requirement is for an automated solution. I am looking for a method
that ensures LaTeX places both floats correctly, without me having to
manually change the order of the figure environments in the source code.

*MWE:*

\documentclass[twocolumn]{article}\usepackage{lipsum}\usepackage{stfloats}\usepackage{graphicx,color}\setlength\marginparwidth{4pc}\setlength\marginparsep{1pc}\begin{document}

Para One: ...

Para Two: ...

Para Three: ...

Para Four: ...

Para Five: ...
\marginpar{{\color{red}\textbf{Fig 1\&2 placed here}}}
\begin{figure}[t]\fbox{\vbox to 10pc{\hbox to
.98\columnwidth{}}}\caption{single col
figure}\end{figure}\begin{figure*}[b]\fbox{\vbox to 10pc{\hbox to
\textwidth{}}}\caption{single col figure}\end{figure*}

Para Six: ...

Para Seven: ...

Para Eight: ...

Para Nine: ...

Para Ten: ...

Para 1-One: ...

Para 1-Two: ...

Para 1-Three: ...

Para 1-Four: ...
\marginpar{{\color{red}\textbf{Fig 3\&4 placed here}}}
\begin{figure}[t]\fbox{\vbox to 10pc{\hbox to
.98\columnwidth{}}}\caption{single col
figure}\end{figure}\begin{figure*}[b]\fbox{\vbox to 10pc{\hbox to
\textwidth{}}}\caption{single col figure}\end{figure*}

Para 1-Five: ...

Para 1-Six: ...

Para 1-Seven: ...

Para 1-Eight: ...

Para 1-Nine: ...

Para 1-Ten: ...
\end{document}

*Present Output:*

Figures 1 & 2 are separated. Figure 1 is on Page 2, while Figure 2 is
pushed to Page 3.

[image: Figures 1 & 2] <https://i.sstatic.net/3Kq084Zl.png> [image: Figures
3 & 4] <https://i.sstatic.net/xFbrkgdi.png>

*Link: https://i.sstatic.net/xFbrkgdi.png
<https://i.sstatic.net/xFbrkgdi.png>*

*Required Output:*

Figures 1 & 2 should both appear on Page 2, just like Figures 3 & 4 do on
Page 4.

[image: Required Output] <https://i.sstatic.net/jKr8RYFd.png>

*Link: https://i.sstatic.net/jKr8RYFd.png
<https://i.sstatic.net/jKr8RYFd.png>*

Kumaresh P

Engineering Lead

P: +91 44 4596 4800
  <https://tnqtech.com/> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnqtech/>

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