Page numbering

[hughl3619539]

InDesign CC: Master pages accept page-numbering symbol (A) on right-hand page, but only "1.A" on left-hand page. Correct page number appears on right-hand pages of spread, but "1.A" appears on every left-hand page.

[jane-e]

Hi Hugh,

If it says 1.A on all the left pages, then that's what you typed. Instead, you need to put the code for page numbering.

• Type menu
• Insert Special Character
• Markers
• Current page number

It will show an "A" if the Master Page has a code for A. You can put in up to 4 characters in the code in Options for the Master Page. But you have to use the code. You can't type an A.

What is the 1 in front of the A? Is that for Chapters? Or is it extraneous?

Best,

Jane

[hughl3619539]

Thank you for your replies.

I used Jeff Witchel's method: copying the text box with "A" in it from the right-hand page to the left-hand page then left-aligning it. Now it works correctly in the document.

Re Jane-e's question "What is the 1 in front of the A? Is that for Chapters? Or is it extraneous?" the answer is I don't know! I did not type a 1 either on the left page or the right page. I assume it is something to do with Chapters, but I do not have chapters and don't want chapters.

The whole business of page numbering in InDesign is not at all easy.

[Derek Cross]

Jeff is one of the great InDesign gurus, but I would say that inserting automatic page numbering in InDesign is fairly straight forward and easy!

[FRIdNGE]

Really no need to be a "guru" when the problem could just be an auto-numbering badly applied, here, on the left page!!

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

Thanks Derek! Looking forward to meeting you at CreativePro Week.

[jane-e]

If the 1. is extraneous and/or you simply don't want it, you can safely delete it!

The thing to remember is you need a code to number pages and can't just type an "A" or a "1".

[hughl3619539]

Thank you all again. The 1. was extraneous – i.e. I never typed it: it just appeared – but if I tried to delete the A it deleted the 1. as well.

I think what I was doing wrong was simply typing A in a text box on the Master Page without doing it through Type>Insert Special Character>Markers>Current Page Number.

This I have now learnt with all your help. Thank you again. Hugh

[jane-e]

Yay!

[FRIdNGE]

Sorry! … but apparently, you have learned nothing here!

Make disappear a problem as Jeff Witchell does doesn't tell you why this problem is!

You say: I've simply typed "A" …

Maybe someone could tell us how this "A" could become "1.A" and how the "1." could disappear if "A" is removed!

THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION?

… And its only answer will help you!

Best,

Michel from FRIdNGE

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

Hi Michel,

I bet if Hugh started from scratch with a new Text Frame and with the Type tool selected, went to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number, it would work perfectly.

Best,

Jeff

[FRIdNGE]

Jeff,

"… it would work perfectly."

Definitely not! …

I could post an ID doc. here where each time you create a new text frame and type inside it "A" [as current page number or anything else! …], you would get: "1.A"… and when you remove "A" [or …], the "1." would disappear!

When an user does something … by error or without having a satisfying explanation about its result, tell him why is, imho, really more helpful than "mettre le problème sous le tapis pour le faire disparaître!" [in French]

Best,

Michel

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

If he has numbering formatting applied to the Frame, it could have this result. That's why I told Hugh to create a new frame.

Just a quick question Michel. Are you interested in helping people or finding issues with other people's answers?

[FRIdNGE]

Just a quick question too, Jeff. Are you interested in helping people, just not trying to find the true reason of their problem and explain it to them?

Personally not me! … and Yes! Your first post doesn't satisfy me because you didn't really explain why Hugh has a problem!

… And I think it's the most important point here! … If Hugh doesn't know why, his problem will surely appear again! …

Are not you ... an expert a little curious to know? 

Best,

Michel

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

As a volunteer answering questions for Adobe, I see my job here as someone who solves people's problems. How they got there in the first place is secondary. I'm not a mindreader, just an Adobe Certified Instructor.

If you look above at my previous answer (13), I think you'll see that I explained how Hugh possibly got to where he was.

[FRIdNGE]

Jeff,

You just confirm what I previously indicated in my posts 6 and 10, as possible explanation! …

But I'm truly very surprised to read that, for you, "how they got there in the first place is secondary …"!

I'm not myself an "ACI", an "ACP", a trainer or "one of the great InDesign gurus"!

Just a simple InDesign user interested by a problem encountered by someone else!

Nothing more! Have a good day!

[end of story]

Best,

Michel

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

Copy the text frame from your left-hand page and paste it on your right-hand page. Position the frame where you want. And it will work. Typing an A on a Master Page will give you that same A on your document pages.