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Vickyvw
Participant
Jul 30, 2026 11:01 AM UTC
Answered

Excluding Pages from Numbering

I have a catalogue that already includes quite a lot of sections (based on specific product groups) as such, I don’t want to force numbering by starting a new section, as this will affect my automatic numbering setup and mix up the sections for each product group already added. However, I want to add adverts in between certain pages on my catalogue without this affecting the page numbers of the rest of my pages. 

for exampe, page 1, page 2, Advert, Page 3. 

We are constantly adding pages and need the automatic numbering function, and referencing the page number off a separate list is also not an option. 

 

I see so many people with this exact same issue. Surely Adobe can add a “Exclude page from numbering” check box?

    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 7:03 PM UTC

    I can think of three options:

    1. use auto numbers instead of page numbers as suggested. 
    2. use sectioning. This will not disrupt other numbering options if set up correctly. (Of course, I don’t have all the details on the job.)
    3. Insert the adv. pages in the final PDF using Acrobat. 
    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

    10 replies

    babarbrohio
    Participating Frequently
    Jul 30, 2026 6:45 PM UTC

    I can see why that would be useful. Keeping automatic page numbering intact while inserting non-numbered pages like adverts seems like a common publishing requirement. Having an option to exclude specific pages from numbering without disrupting the rest of the document would make catalogue workflows much more flexible, especially when content is updated frequently.

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    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 7:03 PM UTC

    I can think of three options:

    1. use auto numbers instead of page numbers as suggested. 
    2. use sectioning. This will not disrupt other numbering options if set up correctly. (Of course, I don’t have all the details on the job.)
    3. Insert the adv. pages in the final PDF using Acrobat. 
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    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 7:48 PM UTC

    Hi Dave, that user is most likely an AI bot...

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    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 2:50 PM UTC

    How will starting a page section affect any auto numbering?

    Is the catalog put together with an InDesign book or is it all one file?

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    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    ACinn
    Participant
    Jul 30, 2026 12:07 PM UTC

    I usually create a parent page with no page number (assuming numbers are on a parent page) and apply it to the pages I don’t want numbered.

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    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 2:48 PM UTC

    But they are still counted in the page numbering. 

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    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    ACinn
    Participant
    Jul 30, 2026 2:53 PM UTC

    Sorry, I misread your post. 

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    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Jul 30, 2026 11:13 AM UTC

    I do not know if there is a “clean” way to do that, but as a quick and dirty solution I would probably use a numbered list instead of page numbers.

     

    Put a small frame on the parent page, link those frames and add return and space into it.

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