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A
Anonymous
November 28, 2013
Answered

Choosing where page numbers start

  • November 28, 2013
  • 4 replies
  • 40380 views

Hi,

I'm working on a book project and would like to start the numbering on a particular page. How do I do that?

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Steve Werner

    Put your page numbers on a master page. Create a text frame. With the Type tool selected, choose Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. Pages based on that master page will show the current page number. (Make sure the page number is on a layer or stacking order high enough to make them visible if there is a background object.)

    Use Numbering and Section Options from the Pages panel menu to specify where the numbering starts and what style of numbering you're using.

    Use a different master page (without page numbers) for pages that don't need page numbers to appear.

    4 replies

    AOOA Farm
    AOOA Farm
    Participant
    October 29, 2018

    Hi I have a question!

    i would like to start my page numbering at page 6, but have it say page 1... how do I do this?

    I have already set up page numbers and been able to get the page numbers to start showing up at page 6, but I want it to say 1 instead of 6 at that page...

    Thanks!!

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 28, 2013

    Neither of the other two responders has mentioned that as soon as you reset a section to start at 1 ID is going to complain that there is another page with the same number already. You fix this by changing the numbering style for one of the sections, probably the one that starts on the first page of the document.

    D
    Doc Maik
    Legend
    November 28, 2013

    Peter Spier wrote:

    Neither of the other two responders has mentioned that as soon as you reset a section to start at 1 ID is going to complain that there is another page with the same number already.

    So what? Let ID complain. That's why I wrote "not very elegant", but that's actually what the topic starter asked for. He/she might renumber the first two pages to A and B if he/she likes.

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 28, 2013

    So waht? Here's what: Duplicate page numbers confuse ID when you need to specify a range of pages for output, and confuse Acrobat as well if you want to print a particular page (had that happen last week).

    It's a small matter to fix the numbering style.

    D
    Doc Maik
    Legend
    November 28, 2013

    In addition to Steve:

    If you place a master page with such a placeholder, then it will show the current page number. In case you want to change the page numbering to, let's say, start with number 1 on the third spread, then you need to do that in the pages panel. Click the third spread/page and select page numbering options from the panel menu and set as desired. There are several ways to realise what you need. Not very elegant, but efficient:

      Steve Werner
      Community Expert
      Steve WernerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      November 28, 2013

      Put your page numbers on a master page. Create a text frame. With the Type tool selected, choose Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. Pages based on that master page will show the current page number. (Make sure the page number is on a layer or stacking order high enough to make them visible if there is a background object.)

      Use Numbering and Section Options from the Pages panel menu to specify where the numbering starts and what style of numbering you're using.

      Use a different master page (without page numbers) for pages that don't need page numbers to appear.

      A
      Anonymous
      November 29, 2013

      Thanks Steve.

      I already had the page numbers and now see how to switch them to the 01, 02 format. So I changed them. But how specifically do you tell InDesign which page you want to be 01? I tried creating a new master with no page numbers and applying it to the pages prior to where I wanted 01 to start but it didn't automatically make the pages change. Meaning, I wanted what was 07 to become 01 so I applied a master with no page numbers to pages 01-06, so it took away the page numbers prior to 07, but the page numbering still started at 07 on page 07. Make sense?

        Peter Spier
        Community Expert
        Peter SpierCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        November 30, 2013

        Ok. Will this have any affect on my exisitng document?


        Replacing prefs does not affect documents (at least not directly), but you'll lose some program customizations. My tendency is to use the manual method so I can put the old ones back if it doesn't help, and I make a backup set so I don't have to rebuild all the custom stuff every time (and sometimes I even remeber I've done that).

        Before you get drastic, though, try disabling the Blurb plugin and any other third party plugins you hav installed.

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