Working with Page Numbers

The most common element that is added to a master page is the page-number character.

To add automatic page numbering:

1.	Draw a text frame on the master page where you want the page number to appear.
2.	Choose Type > Insert Special Character > Auto Page Number. This inserts a special character in the text frame . The auto page number character appears as a letter on master pages but as a number on document pages. Tip The auto page number character is the prefix for the master page (see page 269).
3.	If the master page is a facing-page master, repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other side.

You may want to change the format of page numbers or the number they start from. You do that by creating a new section.

To create a document section:

1.	Move to the page where you want the section to start.
2.	Choose Layout > Numbering & Section Options. The New Section dialog box appears . The New Section dialog box lets you change the formatting and numbering of pages.
3.	Check Start Section to open the options.
4.	Type the label (up to five characters) for the section in the Section Prefix field.
5.	Choose Include Prefix when Numbering Pages to add the section prefix to the page number.
6.	Use the Style pop-up list to set the format for the numbering . The Style menu allows you to choose different formats for page numbering of a section.
7.	Choose the Page Numbering options: Automatic Page Numbering continues the count from the previous pages. Start Page Numbering At lets you enter a specific number to start the section from.
8.	Enter a label for the Section Marker . (See the steps on the next page for how to work with the section marker.) The entry in the Section Marker field allows you to create custom labels for pages.

Once you have created an entry for the section marker (see previous page), you need to insert a section marker character to see the entry on document pages.

To add a section marker character:

1.	Place the insertion point in a text frame where you want the section marker to appear. Tip The text frame can be on a master page or a document page.
2.	Choose Type > Insert Special Character and then choose Section Marker from the menu. Tip If the text frame is on the master page, the word "Section" appears on the master page. If the text frame is on the document page, the label for the section marker appears . The section marker appears as the word "Section" on master pages but as the label on document pages.

You can also insert special characters that create jump lines that show the page where the text flow continues to or from.

To create a continued to/from page number:

1.

Place the insertion point in a text frame that touches the frame that holds the story.

2.

Choose Type > Insert Special Character and then choose one of the following: Next Page Number inserts the number of the page that the text jumps to or continues on . The Next Page Number character shows the page number that the story is continued on. The overlapping area is where the page number frame touches the story frame. Previous Page Number inserts the number of the page that the text continued from . The Previous Page Number character shows the page number that the story comes from. The overlapping area is where the page number frame touches the story frame. Tip The continued to/from character needs a separate text frame so that if the text reflows, the continued to/from character doesn't move along with the text. Tip The continued to/from characters only insert the page number. You have to type "Continued on" or "Continued from" yourself.

Absolute or Section Numbering?

What if you create a document that has its first section start on page i and then starts a new section that starts on page 1? This could create some confusion if you try to print page "one." Which "one" would you print?

Fortunately, InDesign has a preference setting that allows you to change the section numbering to absolute numbering (see page 527). This makes it easier to avoid confusion if a document has multiple sections that start with the same number.