Cannot insert page number

Question

When I try to insert page number and click on "Top of Page" etc, I get the following:

this is an old document, why is is here?

And I cannot insert a number!

Graham

Answer 1

Your screen shot indicates that at least one, possibly all, predefined building blocks (page number formats) have been replaced with other ones.

Are you running Word for Windows? In that case, do the following: Exit Word and then delete the Built-in Building Blocks.dotx template to restore the standard set of formats. To find the template in a US English installation, go to %Appdata%\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks\1033\16. You can enter this path in the Run dialog box (Windows logo key + R) and press Enter.

Answer 2

The gallery that appears when selecting Insert > Page Number > Top of Page is showing built‑in “building block” entries instead of the usual page‑number formats because the file that stores these building blocks is damaged. That is why only old content appears and no usable page‑number layouts are available.

To restore the normal page‑number options:

1. Close Word completely.
2. In File Explorer, locate and delete the file named Built-In Building Blocks.dotx (this is Word’s built‑in building‑blocks template).
3. Restart Word and open the document again.
4. Use Insert > Page Number and choose the desired position and style; the standard page‑number gallery should now be available.

As an alternative way to insert a simple page number at the cursor position, press Shift+Alt+P to insert a PAGE field.

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References:

• Insert page numbers
• Insert page numbers option does not work. All I get is a drop down screen with no sub-options on what page numbers to choose - Microsoft Q&A