Change the last page number

[filippo_1294]

Hi, I'm learning InDesign and I'm having trouble changing the last page number in a document where the "x of y" style is used for numbering. Currently, the document displays an incorrect y value that I'd like to change, but I haven't found a way to do so yet. The original document has been edited, and the y value remains the same, no longer valid after the changes. Can you offer any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Peter Kahrel · Accepted solution]

The 'x of y' style is probable handled by the standard page number variable followed by 'of' and an instance of the 'last page number' text variable (Type > Text variables). To get the last page without the 'of y', create a new parent page, base it on the parent page used for the pages, and change the appearance of the page number by removing 'of ' and and the text-variable instance.

[filippo_1294]

Thank you for the answer

[Randy Hagan · Accepted solution]

Sure.

• Hold down the Ctrl+Shift keys (on a Windows system) or Cmd+Shift keys (on a Mac) and double-click on the compound page number. This releases the content from the parent page and places the content on your document page. It also changes your Arrow/Selection tool cursor to a Text tool cursor.
• Highlight the first page number in your X of Y compound page numbering and change it to the number you want it to be.

Realize that as you do this, you will break the internal coding that automatically determines the page number in your document. If the page count changes in your document, or in any other document that has combined with this document into an InDesign book file, your edited page number will not change and you will have to manually correct the number again.

It's a bit of a rude cure, but it's one that will work for you — with limitations.

Hope this helps,

Randy

[filippo_1294]

Thank you for the answer, this is very useful

[Randy Hagan]

My pleasure. And if you get stuck with InDesign — or any other Adobe program, for that matter — feel free to come back to the appropriate forum here and sound the alarm. There are lots of sharp folks around here happy to lend a hand.

Randy