Did you mean columns?
It is difficult to manage multiple columns (you have tor create a table and sistribute the text automatically to these columns.
It would be easier to use css ( http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-css3-multicol-20010118/ ). The browsers will support multi-columns soon (I hope).
You can set up a quicktag button by editing the info in the quicktags.js file, following the pattern in that file for buttons. You can generally include most anything you want in the buttons, it’s just a matter of making sure it’s all one big long line with no whitespace. I’ve put extremely complex tables for a financial site in the quicktags. That way you have a button labeled “Post Format” and you always click it before starting the post.
I *think* you may be able to do something similar with the wysiwyg setup too, though I really couldn’t say how since I don’t use it at all.
Otherwise you can edit one of the core files (um, I could be wrong – and if so, someone will correct me – I think it’s wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php) but then any time there’s an upgrade you’ll have to re-edit in the changes you want.
A recent topic on the same…topic (with a few solutions):
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/91105
(But ya’ know, vkaryl is right about upgrading. However, something like this could be made into a plugin…)
Heh. Someday I guess I’ll have to figure out how to “make” plugins….
