Page numbers incorrect (16 out of 15 pages)

[Nmack]

Hi,

I'm new to InDesign and am trying to learn it. A document I was sent has a wrong page number - it shows 16 pages out of 15 pages. What I'm thinking is that the original document had a page added to it at some point; I could be wrong, though. I checked the page numbering and nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Can someone please help me? Where should I start? I can provide some more information if needed.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

If this line of text is a Master Page item, look there. It may be the original designer set up that line originally as "Page A of 15" (the A is a placemarker for "Current Page Number") when it was maybe a 15 page document, but wasn't changed when the new page was added.

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi @Nmack:

The correct way to approach this is to use the Last Page Number variable on the master page. This allows InDesign to track the last page number and update it for you. Then you don't have to worry about it as the page count adjusts after edits. It sounds like someone manually added the value 15 for the last number instead of using the variable, probably on the master page, but potentially on each individual body page, depending on their knowledge level. 

~Barb 

[Nmack]

Got it! Thank you. The text was locked and I had to do "Unlock all Spread" first, then I followed your directions from a few years ago on RockyMountainTraining on how to alter it. 

Thanks again.

[Barb Binder]

LOL. I don't remember writing that post or I would have linked to it for you. 🙄 

Well, glad I could help. 😂

~Barb