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Page numbers in sequential Word documents using one section number for each document

Anonymous
2021-07-27T16:48:41+00:00

I am working on multiple documents that will be put together in a single PDF later, but will remain stand alone Word docs. Each Word doc will be considered a separate section of the compiled product (Section 1, 2, etc.). We want page number to begin with the section number. Section 1 will be numbered 1-1, 1-2, etc. I can make this happen by manually entering the first number followed by a dash and making the second number a page number field. However, the page number listed in the Table of Contents does not include the first number because it is not a part of a "field." I do not want to use the chapter number function because this section number is not a heading number within my document.

Can anyone help?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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Jay Freedman 207.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2021-07-28T01:37:14+00:00

There is a \s switch that can be included in the TOC field code (see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/field-codes-toc-table-of-contents-field-1f538bc4-60e6-4854-9f64-67754d78d05c ) to include a number created by a SEQ field in the text. The same identifier, such as "chapter", must be in both the SEQ field code and the TOC field code.

That switch is intended to be used with multiple copies of the SEQ field, each of which generates a different number, to indicate multiple chapters in one document. However, there's nothing to prevent placing only one SEQ field in each document, and there's no requirement to put that SEQ field in a header. Just stick it at the beginning of the document, just before or just after the TOC.

Even better, the SEQ field's result doesn't have to be visible. I've tested marking the SEQ field as Hidden, and the TOC still generates the desired number.

With Hidden characters displayed:

With Hidden characters invisible:

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-07-28T16:26:41+00:00

    I have been playing around with your instructions, without success. This type of formatting may just be above my level of capabilities. However, my supervisor just told me not to worry about including these numbers. Thanks so much for trying to help!

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