PowerPoint Slide Number Problem

Question

Hello,

I have the version of PPT  with Office 365 and have issues with page numbers. I have the page numbers set up on the slide master. All of the slides I created previously have the slide numbers on them correctly. But when I add a new slide or duplicate an existing slide, instead of the page number appearing, it appears as <#>.

I've tried going into insert page number and checking/unchecking/apply to all/etc many times on the master and in regular view, but nothing. When I go to insert page number on one of these problem slides, I check the page number box, but when I go back in, the box is always unchecked again. It will not stay checked. I have had issues with this for a long time and nothing seems to work.

Even if I create a new slide and apply a layout to it, the slide number just appears as <#>, not the actual number.

Any suggestions appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

On your Ribbon, is the second tab from the left called Slide Master when this happens? If so, you're creating slide layouts, not slides. It's normal for slide layouts to display the slide number field as <#>.

Otherwise, please try running an Office repair:

1. Click on the Start Button, then on Settings, then on Apps.
2. Click on Microsoft Office 2019, then click on the Modify button.
3. Choose Online Repair, then click on the Repair button.
4. Grab a coffee, let the process complete, restart your computer and see if you can insert slide numbers normally.

Answer 2

No, the slide number looks like <#> on the master and on the slides - both. I'll try the repair when I have a chance and see what happens. Thanks.

Answer 3

It isn't enough to "Look Like" <#> on the master and layouts. Try deleting the <#> in each layout and then select the placeholder for slide number and insert Slide Number from the ribbon (Insert in slide master view)

Answer 4

Yes. It already is a placeholder on the master. I just meant that it also looks like the placeholder on the regular slide. I didn't try deleting the placeholder and creating a new one so maybe I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Answer 5

What I am saying is that typing <#> as three chareactersinto the number placeholder is NOT the same as using Insert > SlideNumber from the ribbon to add the <#> field and will not work (it will do exactly what you are seeing in fact.)