How do I start numbering on a certain page?

[landscape_snarkitect]

I have a few intro pages, acknowledgements, and letters prior to the start of a first chapter of a book. The first real informational page starts on page 9. Is there anyway to set page 9 as page 1 in the document file? I am using automatic markers with the current page numbers at the bottom of my pages.

Thanks!

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

So all of the pages of this document are in the same InDesign file? Yes, but InDesign isn't going to be happy that you have two page 1s. So, even if the page numbers aren't visible in the front matter, right click the page 1 icon in the Pages panel > Number and Section Options > Page Numbering style: i, ii, iii, iv... This will change the entire document to lowercase roman numerals. 

Then right click the page ix icon in the Pages panel > Number and Section Options > Start Page Numbering at 1 and set the style back to 1, 2, 3, 4...

~Barb

[landscape_snarkitect]

New cover page generated rather than keeping spread intact

This worked, but between the roman numeral pages and the new page 1 (old page 9), it started page 1 as a cover page and shifted my spreads around. How can I make sure it doesn't affect my spreads?

Thanks, 

[Barb Binder]

No, we don't want that. 

Is there anyway to set page 9 as page 1 in the document file?

Numerically speaking, 1 and 9 are both right pages so changing the display to i and 1 wouldn't have done this unless the page you changed was actually page 8? Changing 8 to an odd page number will shift it to the right. Is that what happened?

In almost all documents, odd pages are right pages and even pages are left pages. As readers, we instinctively know that and InDesign follows that rule. Are you trying to start the page numbering with 1 on an left page? We can help you drag the pages around so that 1 is a left page, but that's breaking the numbering convention, so give some thought to whether that is something you really want to do. 

~Barb

[landscape_snarkitect]

Yes, I realized that page 8 (left page) is really the page that should be page 1. I tried the process again and unchecked the "Allow Document Pages to Shuffle" setting. It appeared to work the way I intended. Is there any issue to this method or should it be okay? I just removed the page number from the pages that are still in the Roman Numeral convention. 

Thanks!

[Barb Binder]

Yes. That looks great. 

~Barb

[Sanvi5EB8]

Hi,

Thankyou sooo much, you just saved my hours of hardwork...