How to add page numbers that alternate between left and right without spreads/facing pages?

[DexAlpenglow]

I know how to add auto-page numbering that alternate between left and right for spreads/facing pages, but I can't seem to find a way to accomplish this with non-facing pages. The reason I want to do it with non-facing pages, is this: whne working with spreads, when I need to add a page in the middle of my book, Indesign then bumps all my pages to the other side of the spread causing the bleeds to be off and create a layout mess. So I am looking for a way to have alternating pages that is easy to do with a very large page count, that also allows me to easily add pages in the middle of the document without a ton of busy work.

[Chad Chelius]

Well the problem is that if you are not using facing pages, then you don't have left and right pages. You could do it by creating two parent pages, one with the page number on the left and one with the page number on the right, then apply the left parent page to every other page starting with page 1 and then apply the right parent page to every other page starting on page two.

[DexAlpenglow]

Yeah but in a very large book, that is really tedious since indesign doesn't allow you to apply master to just odd or even pages. Seems really weird there isn't an easy way to do this to avoid human error.

[Chad Chelius]

You're really missing the point here. You're fighting the obvious solution which is to use facing pages. That will solve all of your problems.

[DexAlpenglow]

My problem with using facing pages is if i have to go in and add a page to the middle of the document it screws up the layout. see attached photo.

[Willi Adelberger]

You have to move the colored frame to the bleed. I anchor such frames in a text frame and can tell the distance from the spine which will automatically correct that frame.

[DexAlpenglow]

Can you elobarate on this, I am not sure I follow you.

[Chad Chelius]

All you have to do is re-apply the appropriate parent page to the document page. Although based on your screen shot it doesn't look like you're using parent pages but instead just have those colored frames on the document page. In that case the frame will move with the page as you've shown.

[DexAlpenglow]

The screenshot isn't my actual document, just trying to illustrate the problem I am having. The issue I have with having to reapply a parent page, is if I add a page after page 4 of a 100 page document, then I have to reapply a parent page or adjust my design on 96 pages. Is that what you are suggesting? Or am i just not understanding something? By the way, I really appreciate the help and feedback. thank you!

[Chad Chelius · Accepted solution]

I've created a video in InDesign to show how this should work. I hope this helps. https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsOY4oj7seXTk54rLIkhf_DGdqoOhQ?e=baCdyd

[DexAlpenglow]

Thanks so much for the video! I really appreciate it. I think the one thing that wasn't addressed is bleeds. And based off your video it seems like if I incorpate bleeds into the actual page dimensions that might solve my problem. For instance, if I want my final trim size to be 10x10in, i should make my actual page dimensions 10.5x10.5in. Do you agree with that logic? If not, can you show a similar video with bleeds like the ones in my screen shot?

[Chad Chelius]

Here you go https://1drv.ms/v/s!AsOY4oj7seXTk54zeinyQ4yryftDJQ?e=lKCKYk

[DexAlpenglow]

I really appreciate the second video. What happens in a real world example, where instead of a rectangled object in a master/parent page, those are now photographs that are different on every page, so when you create a new page 11. the phot on the new page 12 (old 11) is now not correct. see attached screen shot. 

[Chad Chelius]

It's working as expected. When you place an image into an item from a parent page, that object becomes a document page object - no longer connected to the master. So that object is going to move along with that page. You could re-apply the parent page and re-place the image. But that's just how it works.

[DexAlpenglow]

Again thank you for helping me with this. I just want to make sure I understand. If I have a 1000 page book, all with bleeding images on each page using spreads/facing pages. If the client asks me to add a page at page 3, or the table contents goes longer than expected, etc, etc, where I need to add a page after page 3, I then need to go in and manually adjust the bleeds for 997 pages? Is that what you are saying is normal procedure?

[Chad Chelius]

No the bleeds won't change. I'm just saying you'll have to re-apply the parent page which will put the frame on that page, then you'll need to re-place the image into that frame. The bleeds are already defined on the parent page so won't need to be adjusted at all.

[DexAlpenglow]

Forgive me, my terminology may not be correct, but is it correct that you are saying i will have to indvidually "re-apply the parent page and re-place the image" 997 times?

[Chad Chelius]

No, all of those other pages (and images) will shift to the next page because the images are on each page.

[DexAlpenglow]

I am defintely not understanding. Can you put together a video showing this. This would greatly help me and I am happy to compensate you for your time.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Depending on how your book is formatted, you could use a single-flow chapter using inline and anchored graphics. That way, you wouldn't need to add a single page--you would just add the new content and the text/graphics would flow as needed. 

[DexAlpenglow]

My book is basically 1 unique topic per page, I am not sure this method would work for that?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It should. You can set a page break for the pages title in the paragraph style.