% This file is embedded in ffuserguide.pdf 
% Example 1 Frame Page Lists
% Label: "ex:twocolumnsidepanel"
% arara: pdflatex
\documentclass[11pt]{book}
\pagestyle{plain}
\usepackage[a4paper,outer=3in,marginparwidth=2cm,columnsep=4pt]{geometry}
\usepackage[pages=absolute,draft]{flowfram}
\usepackage{lipsum}% provide dummy text
\onecolumn[1][single]% only use on page 1
\setflowframe*{single}{margin=inner}
\twocolumn[>1][left,right]% use on all pages except p.1
\setflowframe*{left}{margin=left}
\setflowframe*{right}{margin=right}
\newdynamicframe{2in}{\typeblockheight}
 {\typeblockwidth+\columnsep}{0pt}[sidepanel]
\newcommand{\Hugebf}{\Huge\bfseries}
\setdynamicframe*{sidepanel}
 {evenx={-2in-\columnsep},
 style=Hugebf
} 

\setdynamiccontents*{sidepanel}{Side Panel on Page~\thepage.} 
\begin{document}
First page.\marginpar{note1}
\mainmatter
Start sample.\marginpar{note2}
\lipsum[3-5]
End sample.\marginpar{note3} 
\end{document}