Two questions regarding Shooting

[Hassan]

1. Does a column count as being a single rank when shot at? For the shooting POA.

2. Can a unit, engaged in close combat, shoot at a unit outside of that combat?
2.B. Can the engaged unit fight in the following close combat if having shot at another unit?

[philqw78]

Does a column count as being a single rank when shot at?

No, it is one file wide but certainly more than 1 rank deep, whichever direction it is shot from

Conversley/also BG one rank deep still counts one rank deep if shot from the flank.

Can a unit, engaged in close combat, shoot at a unit outside of that combat

Yes (but it cannot normally shoot at the BG it is in close combat with, except in the impact phase, this being because they must be out of arc. ) but see below for a fuller explanation

Can the engaged unit fight in the following close combat if having shot at another unit

Only those not capable of adding dice to the combat can shoot. In effect those in contact and overlap contact with enemy fight, those not may shoot.