Page number problems

Question

I'm editing a 105 page document with figures, tables, appendices, etc.  This is the fifth such document I've worked on and the only one with the following page number problems.  I have Word version 2013.

In it's native format (i.e. every page is follow previous page), the page numbers are all over the place.  The number may jump several pages, or repeat a previous page.  I've tried specifying each page, but sometimes I have to use the current number and sometimes I have to use the previous number as the "start at" number.  If I check continue previous section, I can get almost any page, out of order.  When I specify each page number, some of the previous page numbers change.  I've been through the file three times doing that and still have wrong page numbers.

I've tried deleting all footers, saving the file, reopening it, and adding page numbers.  I have the same problem.  Obviously, there is something in the file that is affecting the page numbering system, but I can't figure out what it is.  Does someone have any idea what it might be and how I can fix it?  Thanks for your help.

John Mill

USCG Auxiliary, Chief, Advanced Training Division (unpaid volunteer).

Answer 1

Here are two free Add-Ins that may assist you:

• Continuous Page Numbering Add-In
• Word Toolkit for Advanced Management of Headers and Footers

The first can be used to reset your document to have continuous page numbers throughout. You would then restart it after your front matter and have continuous numbering from then on.

The second lets you look at the settings for every section in your document.

I would recommend working with a copy of your document to see if you like the results.

If you are unable to use Add-Ins downloaded the first one uses a macro by Jay Freedman.

Sub ContinuousPageNumbers1()

' Jay Freedman

' http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2007-word/page-numbers-are-all-fouled-up-in-my-large/d188687e-9663-43e0-a450-1dbadc47f09f

' modified to preserve track changes status - idea from Graham Mayor 25 Oct 2017'

    Dim secNum As Long

    Dim btnCancel ' give user chance to cancel

    Dim bTrackChanges As Boolean

    btnCancel = MsgBox(prompt:="Do you want to reset all of the page numbers in this document to number continuously?", _

        Title:="Are you sure?", _

        Buttons:=vbYesNo)

    If btnCancel = vbNo Then

        MsgBox prompt:="Reset of continuous page numbering cancelled by user!", Buttons:=vbExclamation, Title:="Page Number Reset Cancelled!"

        Exit Sub

    End If

'   Proceed with reset

    bTrackChanges = ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions 'Graham Mayor

    ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = False ' Graham Mayor

    With ActiveDocument

        For secNum = 2 To .Sections.Count

            .Sections(secNum).Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary) _

                 .PageNumbers.RestartNumberingAtSection = False

        Next

    End With

    ActiveDocument.TrackRevisions = bTrackChanges 'Graham Mayor

    MsgBox prompt:="The Continuous Page Numbers macro has run.", Title:="Page number reset macro finished!"

End Sub

Installing Macros

Answer 2

Continuous sections that are limited to part of a page won't have a visible header or footer. Such sections may be refererred to as "landlocked." Display hidden marks so that you can see all section breaks. However, even with landlocked sections, you can specify continuous page numbering in the Page Number Format dialog box (just click Insert | Page Number | Format Page Number), if that is what you want.

Answer 3

When you insert a page number in the header or footer, what you add is actually a placeholder for the number.

The actual numbering is controlled by the settings in the Page Number Format dialog box, where you can either specify a specific starting number, for a given section, or choose to continue the numbering from the previous section. (To create a section, you will have to insert a section break.)

See http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/FrontMatterRibbon.htm.

Answer 4

I know all of this already.  This issue is not that simple.  Thanks for the response.

J

Answer 5

Presumably, you're using some version of Microsoft Word.  I'll move your question to the generic Word forum, but if you click the 3 dots at the bottom of your question and select "Edit" you'll be able to move it to the section for your specific edition of Word.