Page numbering starts with "1."

[Dilan_T]

Hi you all,

I am having an issue with page numbering and i really hope i find some help here. I am creating a 60 page portfolio and wanted to add page numbers through the master pages. In the text frame i went the usual path Type>Insert Special Character>Markers>Current Page Number but instead of "A" i got "1.   A". It repeats the same "1.   current page number" on every page but it is not a prefix and i cant find a way to make any sort of change on "1.". If i erase A, it is also erased.

Here i found a thread of someone having the same issue apparently: https://forums.adobe.com/message/10362918#10362918. He was just lucky because this issue was only on one of the master pages and it simply worked for him to copy from the other page that had no issue. And i am just unlucky because both of my pages are showing the same issue. I wish people on this thread followed the root of the issue as one of them suggested but the discussion seems to be getting hot and i didnt wanna revoke it tbh.

Any ideas how i might have messed up with my document?

Sincerely,

Dilan

[Barb Binder]

Hi Dilan:

This is starting out correctly. To add page numbers, navigate to the master pages, draw a text frame and insert the page number via Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. If you are on the A-Master an A will appear. On the B-Master, a B will appear.

When you return the the body pages, you should see a 1 on page 1, a 3 on page 3, etc.

So are you saying that you are seeing a 1 on each body page? Can you share an image of your Pages panel? Are the body pages showing the correct numbers underneath?

~Barb

[Dilan_T]

oh sure, much easier! So it does show the page number changing on every page but with an additional "1." at the beginning. Like maybe "(Chapter) 1. (Page) 52"? I am just tossing ideas, i am not working with chapters so i dont know really.

Master Page:

Page 52:

[hammer0909]

I’m going to guess that if you go to the Pages panel, click on the panel menu, and choose Numbering and Section Options, that you have a section prefix of 1. entered into the Section Prefix field and the checkbox to “include prefix when numbering pages“ has been enabled. Turn off the checkbox and delete the text in this dialog box and I think you’ll be good to go.

[Dilan_T]

Thanks for the guess but i already told that it is not a prefix.

[hammer0909]

Wait, you don’t have the numbered list formatting applied to that text do you? Set to always start at 1?

[Dilan_T]

I guess i dont know how that is. I just open a new text frame and insert the character. Could you guide me through that?

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi Dilan:

1. Click on 1.  52 with the Type tool.
2. Change to the Paragraph view of the Control panel (the ¶)
3. Alt + click the numbering icon in the Control panel.
4. Choose List Type: None

Did that work? If so, redefine your style.

~Barb

[Dilan_T]

OMG that works! I have no idea how it happened in the first place - never used it -, but anyway such a relief! Thank you both for your insights and guidance ^.^

[hammer0909]

One thing that's important to understand with InDesign, is that if you choose an option such as the numbered list formatting, with nothing selected, it becomes the default formatting while you're working in the document. That's probably what happened in your case and you just didn't realize it. But after it happened, every single text frame that you created will have that formatting applied.

[JessicaDub]

Thank you, Barb! You saved me too! I was having this issue...and had no idea that paragraph presets cause that issue. Wooh -- thank you for sending me in the right direction.