Automatic sub-page numbering

[WendyLee17]

I inherited a 500 page document and the client wants sections of the catalog numbered within the document. Example: The section for Custom Wood Hoods begins on page 470 of the catalog. He wants to add numbering to the sections without messing up the auto page numbering, ex. • CUSTOM WOOD HOODS 1 •. I tried using section markers, but it still wants to change the page number. Any ideas?

[Mike Witherell]

Click on page 470 in the Pages panel. Then click the upper-right panel menu button flyout. Choose Numbering and Section Options where you can restart the page numbering to 1 at that page.

[WendyLee17]

I don't want to start the main page numbering over again, though. I want to be able to add a page number at the end of

• CUSTOM WOOD HOODS ? •  The ? would be the section page number on page 470.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Is the entire section one number or do you want the section number to increment independently from the page number?

Example1: Custom Wood Hoods is on pages 470-570, while the section number number is 1-100.

Example2: Custom Wood Hoods is on pages 470-570, while the section number number set to 1 on all pages in section.

[WendyLee17]

Example 1

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

If Example 1:

Edit the Section header paragraph style to use numbering; format to put number at end of paragraph.

Split the document into separate documents by section.

Put the documents into a book. Number will restart by default on a per document basis.

If you don't want to split the document--although it would be a good idea--use the paragraph numbering.

Create a style to reset/restart number at 1.

Apply at the beginning of each new section.

Unfortunately, in either case the header will have to be editable on each page. You can override master items on the entire document in the Pages panel. (Put stuff you don't want to override on a locked layer or set to not override.)

[WendyLee17]

Thank you - I'll try it out.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

In the Numbering and Section Options, add the Section marker info but make sure the page number is set to Auto. That will keep the page numbering continuous.

[WendyLee17]

I tried adding the section marker, but it didn't change anything. I must be missing a simple step.

[Barb Binder]

Mike and Dave: I'm confused. Isn't a section marker just a label? Like "Appendix–" in a footer that shows Appendix–1 on the first page of the appendix section? Can it increment like page numbers? I think Wendy wants both automatically incrementing page numbers and automatically incrementing section numbers.

~Barb

[WendyLee17]

Yes - that's what I'm looking to do.

[Mike Witherell]

I don't think you can have both automatically increment. It would be like having InDesign use a CurrentPageNumber in two places on the footer of the page, yet reckon each one differently. I don't think InDesign can do that. The sub numbering system would have to NOT be a CurrentPageNumber. The sub-numbering would have to be a numbered paragraph style. Complicated!

[WendyLee17]

I've tried everything and it always reverts back to changing the main page number. Thank you all for your help, though.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

As Michael said, you can't use auto-page numbering twice on the same page and get different numbering options.

You will HAVE to use paragraph styles to use that numbering (see my post).

If you can't get it to work, let me know if you can send me your file and I will set it up for you.

[WendyLee17]

I'm not sure what you mean.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Here is an example file:

https://adobe.ly/2ytWS4C​

The master pages used an auto page number, a section marker, and in-line text box (to put section "page number" at end of marker), and a date variable.

I overrode all master page items at once using the Page panel. (I prevented the footer from being overridden on the master page.)

I changed the section maker as needed and then changed the section "page number" to restart at 1. (I did it every 25 pages in this example to keep it simple).

[Barb Binder]

Hi Wendy:

I was going to circle back and suggest paragraph numbering, but Dave already did.

The idea is to add a paragraph to each page and activate auto-numbering for the paragraphs. If you aren't already using primary text frames on your masters, that's the easiest way. You can edit the contents primary frames on the body pages.

On  body page 1, add a space (thin space, spacebar space, it doesn't matter) and a hard return for each page. Copy and paste, of course.

Create a paragraph style and activate auto-numbers. I added the word "Section" but you won't have to.

Tell that paragraph tag to always start In Next Frame and then add any other formatting you want.

Select all and assign that new paragraph tag to all the space ¶s.

When you need to start a new section, right click and Restart Numbering.

~Barb

[WendyLee17]

So, would I need to copy/paste the paragraph to each page? I tried putting it on the master pages, but it just duplicates 1 and 2.

[Barb Binder]

Are you already using primary text frames on the master?

Primary text frames

(If you don't have a subscription you can start a free trial to see the video.)

Once you know what they are and if you are not already using them: draw them on the masters and link them together. Then return to the body pages and follow the steps above.

~Barb

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

No, as I mentioned, you will have to override master page items to get the paragraph numbering to work.

Place them on the master page THAN override them with the Pages panel.