Hello,
Following the example in the Columns manual, the following works with TeXLive 2011 but not with the current context suite beta (25 nov 2011):
\definecolumnset[body][n=2]
\definecolumnsethsize{body}{1}{1}\One
\definecolumnsethsize{body}{1}{2}\Two
\starttext
\startcolumnset[body]
\dorecurse{5}{\input tufte\par}
\startbuffer
\placefigure[btlr]{A placeholder figure.}{\externalfigure[widefigure][width=\Two]}
\stopbuffer
\dorecurse{5}{\input tufte\par}
\getbuffer
\stopcolumnset
\stoptext
Using the current beta, the figure only cleanly spans one column -- vertical space for the graphic and caption is reserved in one column; in the other column, text flows on beneath the graphic, which is superimposed.
Using TeXLive 2011, the wide figure spans both columns correctly.
Thanks,
PPN
--
Peter Park Nelson
peter.park.nelson@gmail.com