Page Numbering Resets to 1 Midway – How to Fix Numbering and Section Issues in InDesign?

[lauraw84542356]

I've been battling with inDesign's Numbering and Section Options. On my document, the page numbering goes 1, 2, 3, 4, then goes back to 1 and starts counting up again. I have no idea what caused this. To give you some background:

I duplicated an InDesign doc I have to use as a template. This template had numbers on each page. I then began making changes to it, such as adding and deleting pages etc. Now, when it comes to sorting out the numbering for the entire document, I keep doing 'Start page numbering at 1', but it doesn't seem to override the numbers lower down the document. The same A-parent is assigned to all of my pages. I screenrecorded what's happening here:

I've had this issue before but have never been able to solve it. I think previously I've done some sort of workaround like pasting the pages on a new document and starting again. Has anyone encountered this or know how to solve it?

I've already tried the following:

• Deleting and re-adding the page marker symbol from the A-parent.
• Automatic page numbering.
• Unticked 'Allow document pages to shuffle' and 'Allow selected spread to shuffle'.

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[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

Unless the document is corrupted or something really odd has happened, the only thing that will restart page numbering is a section break. In the Pages pane, look for a tiny down-arrow above any page — that's the start of a new section, which among other things is setting new page numbering details —

There is always a section start on Page 1; don't worry about it. But any others — right-click on that page icon and uncheck "Start New Section." (Or, to start a new numbering scheme, such as going from i-xiv to 1-2-3 numbering, set a new section and define the numbering scheme you want.)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

In the video, above the 4th and 5th page there are triangles.

[lauraw84542356]

Thank you so much for your help! This was the solution. I never really use sections, so I've got no idea how I managed to add sections to it without realising. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Your video shows you the problem--you have Start Page Numbering at: 1.

If you want to continue the numbering, it should be on Automatic. I don't think you set this properly since it wouldn't be in your video. You can still use the Setion Start with a Section Marker if you want--just keep it on Automatic. 

A couple of tips:

If you are printing front and back, you should be using facing pages, not single pages.

Your footer information should be outside the bottom margin, not inside. 

[lauraw84542356]

Thanks for trying to help. Just a quick tip for you: Perhaps you might reconsider next time before giving unsolicited advice.  I don't like using facing pages and there's no 'rule' that the page numbers and copyright must be outside the margin. It's best to just respond to the question the poster is asking rather that jumping in to tell them why you think their other work is wrong.

[Nick Passmore]

You're free to simply ignore Dave's advice of course or to explain why you disagree with him. However, such advice is kindly meant and even if it does not seem useful or appropriate to you it may well be helpful to some of the many other InDesign users who read this forum.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Sorry for the additional information. If I knew you were such an expert, I wouldn't have offered the tips.