How do I get the page layout to be properly paginated in PDF format?

[Lisa Dorn Design]

Hello, I can't figure out what I am doing wrong with the spreads in this book. When converted to PDF the pages seem separeted at chapters. (see screen shot). 
I've added pages, deleted pages, trying to get the book (when in PDF format) to flow properly.

Thanks in advance for you help! 

[Peter Spier]

One of the inherent problems of exporting PDF from a .indb book project is that the spreads do not combine across document boundaries.

The only way I can think of to make exported spreads that "look" correct is to move pages from one doc to another so that every file ends on an odd-numbered page.

BUT, as a matter of principle I would recommend against exporting as spreads and let the user decide how rthey want to view the PDF. You can set the PDF up to display as two-up with cover page as the default initial view.

[Lisa Dorn Design]

Thanks Peter, I appreaciate your time. 

[rob day]

Hi @Lisa Dorn Design , Just to clarify, is your PDF intended for screen viewing only, or will it be printed and bound? If it will be printed, you have to export pages not spreads—the pages will be imposed and the printer will need to have pages not spreads in order to setup the imposition.

[Lisa Dorn Design]

Hi Rob, it will be printed and bound, but I wanted to send to client as spreads so it made sense to them.

[rob day]

With AcrobatPro you can set and save the intial view for PDFs exported as  pages:

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It looks like your documents are using a combination of Facing Pages and single pages placed side-by-side.

What are your book's pagination settings?

[Lisa Dorn Design]

Hi Dave, I have my file set up like this:

[Lisa Dorn Design]

This is for each chapter.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

How did you get this layout in Acrobat:

This is the typical two-page spread with cover layout:

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS  that's the layout you would see in Acrobat when exporting as spreads from the Book panel...

I think those cases where there are two two-page spreads displayed together are problably a case of choosinfg to display 2-up.

@Lisa Dorn Design You should export this from the Book panel as single pages and set the view to 2-up, cover page and your clinet should see what you want. Unless there are marks or bleeds you don't want the clent to see, you can even use the same PDF you will send to the printer.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

@Peter Spier Yes, I suspected spreads since I did not see a center page line in the PDF screen captures. Just wanted to confirm. 

@Lisa Dorn Design As Peter stated, export as single pages. Spreads can't match up a left-hand page from one document to the right-hand page from the following document (and vice versa). 

[Lisa Dorn Design]

Thanks, Dave for your help, too. You and Peter are awesome! 

[Lisa Dorn Design]

WONDERFUL! Thank you soooo much for helping to get this PDF to view correctly. I'm so grateful 😄