The following VBA example links frames of paragraph text. It then creates three columns in the first frame, applying bold formatting to the first column.
Sub Test()
Dim s As Shape
Dim s1 As Shape
Dim s2 As Shape
Dim d As Document
Dim t As Text
Dim strText As String
strText = "This is a test. This sentence must be long enough " & _
"to span across multiple columns in this frame. I am sure " & _
"that it will cross multiple columns now."
strText = strText & " This is next part " & strText
Set d = CreateDocument
Set s = d.ActiveLayer.CreateParagraphText(2, 2, 5, 5, strText)
Set s1 = d.ActiveLayer.CreateParagraphText(5, 5, 8, 8)
Set s2 = d.ActiveLayer.CreateParagraphText(8, 8, 10, 10)
Set t = s.Text
' Link the frames together
t.Frame.LinkTo s1
s1.Text.Frame.LinkTo s2
' Set the columns
t.Frame.SetColumns 3, False, Array(0.7, 0.1, 1, 0.1, 1)
t.Frame.Range.Columns.First.Bold = True
End Sub