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Question

Page header issues

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
October 20, 2025
4 replies
492 views

This weekend I've been searching for ways to automatically solve issues with the headers. Previously I was using the Section, which seemed to work nicely until one chapter (and only one) will not display the spaces between words. The first solution seemed to be to switch the parent pages to Running Header, which also doesn't work as it not only pulls from the wrong source but doesn't include spaces either. The wider internet seems to say 'just put in what you want per page' since it won't work correctly and takes too much time to fix. Is there a method or setting I'm missing?

How to

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Forgive me, maradr, but I left my Karnak the Magnificent hat at home.

Unless you are willing to share some screenshots or a sanitized version of your InDesign file, I simply cannot guess at what you are doing or dealing with.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

OK, perhaps you could post screenshots of the Pages panel menu button > Numbering and Section Options?

And also a zoomed-in screenshot of what you are seeing that is not showing spacebar spaces?

And are you operating on the Parent page?

Otherwise, we are left with guessing at things you are not describing clearly.

Mike Witherell

M

MaradrXAuthor

Known Participant

Using running header - no spaces, uses the wrong info from the page.

M

MaradrXAuthor

Known Participant

Parent page:

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

And just to be clear, your problem is with using text variables; not sections naming?

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/numbering-pages-chapters-sections.html#define_section_numbering

Mike Witherell

M

MaradrXAuthor

Known Participant

Yes, thanks. I've done the Section Marker renaming a bunch to test this, including recreating in other sections, but still spaces aren't showing correctly. And as a bonus, the chapter numbers aren't working now either - all showing as 1 - even when undoing. Hm, not sure how much fun I've caused for myself when I might have copy-pasted per page instead.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Hi Maradr,

My first question would be: Did you make the textframe wide enough to show the entire header/section name variable?

It might be helpful to post a copy of your file, too.

Also, there is this thorough helpx page:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/text-variables.html

Mike Witherell

M

MaradrXAuthor

Known Participant

Thanks, seems to be wide enough, and trying several changes didn't allow spaces to be shown.

Not going to post a file, seems like bait to ask.

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