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Alternative Page numbering

New Here ,
Jun 09, 2018 Jun 09, 2018

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Hi, I am trying to set up a document which has all of the odd pages numbered sequentially and no numbering on the even pages. Can anyone suggest how to do this? I don't want the document to be facing pages either.

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Enthusiast ,
Jun 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

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Hi,

You should create two different master pages, one with the page number and one without it and apply the master page with the page number to the odd pages of your document.

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New Here ,
Jun 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

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Thanks, how do you apply the master page to just the odd numbered pages all at one time?

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Community Expert ,
Jun 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

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Hi Matthew,

see into a number generator like that:

Indys scripts

Create a sequence of 1,3,5 …

Find/change Text:

Find  ^p

Replace with ,

and copy the result to the input field for applying your master.

Regards,
Uwe

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Community Expert ,
Jun 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

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Thanks, how do you apply the master page to just the odd numbered pages all at one time?

From the Pages flyout there's Apply Master where you could do a comma delimited page range. But unless I misunderstand your question that won't help because auto page numbers will display 1,3,5,7,9... and not 1,2,3,4,5. You could do it via a script as Uwe suggests or setting section starts for every odd page, which I've done in the 3rd capture below. That could also be scripted.

Screen Shot 1.png

Screen Shot 2.png

Screen Shot 3.png

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Community Expert ,
Sep 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023

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Turn on Facing Pages in File > Document Setup. This will enable you to have a left and a right parent page in the Pages panel. The right page is odd, the left even. So add a page number only to the right parent page. This will appear on all right0hand (odd) pages using that parent.

Screenshot 2023-09-30 at 9.51.01 PM.png

image.png  Screenshot 2023-09-30 at 9.53.38 PM.png

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Community Expert ,
Jun 10, 2018 Jun 10, 2018

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I think you will have to hand number the pages. The auto numbering glyph uses the absolute page reference I.e., page 5 could not be auto numbered as page 3 unless maybe you wanted to create a new section on every alternate page.

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Guide ,
Jun 11, 2018 Jun 11, 2018

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Hi there

Here's another scriptless workaround:

First create a list of sequential numbers separated by a carriage return. It's easy to do in Excel; save it as Unicode .txt e.g.

In Indesign, create a non-primary blank text frame in your Master Page.

Create a paragraph style for your page numbers. In the Keep options, select "start at every odd page".

In your Preferences, make sure autoflow is ON, and deselect "Limit to Primary Text Frames". "Delete blank pages" could also be a handy option.

Finally place your .txt file while holding Shift key and clicking on your page 1 text frame. Apply your paragraph style to all numbers.

You should be done, but obviously this is not an automated way and if you need to move or insert pages, things will go messy and you'll have to reapply the Master and go through the placing process again. Or just do it once, when your layout is finished.

Hope that helps

Vinny

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Community Expert ,
Jun 11, 2018 Jun 11, 2018

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Why do you want to avoid facing pages. I don't see any reason to work this way. Tel us the problem you are facing, I am sure that there are better solutions.

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New Here ,
Sep 30, 2023 Sep 30, 2023

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Hi There, I am trying to do something similar and wondering if there is a simple work around to avoid hand numbering all pages. Essentially mine is a photobook, so i am trying to use the page numbers in indesign as plate numbers associated with each photograph. Which means as the photos are only on the RH page and not the left side facing page I wish to avoid those numbers. See screen grab please. thanks so much! best Damien

 

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Community Expert ,
Oct 01, 2023 Oct 01, 2023

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But you are showing us preview o the Pages Panel - those numbers below the pages are generated by InDesign - and are for reference only.

 

What will be on the page depends on what you insert as a Special Character in the TextFrame - this is an example of inserting it on the MasterSpread:

RobertTkaczyk_0-1696173082731.png

 

But, do you want to number only right pages - 1, 3, 5 and so on - can be done automatically by InDesign - you just need to insert Page Marker only on right pages:

RobertTkaczyk_3-1696173538427.png

or do you want to number spreads 1, 2, 3, 4... - in this case you need to do like @vinny38 suggested

RobertTkaczyk_2-1696173348800.png

 

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