Page Numbers are not sequential

[Julie27]

I have a Word document that I'm updating. It originally contained 9
pages and now contains 13. I need for it start numbering at page 21
and I'd like it to have different odd and even pages. I've done all
these things in the past and had no problems. However, today I'm not
so lucky.

Here are the glitches.
1) the 2nd page is listed as an "odd page" when it should be an "even
page." It contains page number 23. I don't see any next page breaks
that would create an invisible page 22.

2) Page 22 is after page 24. It is in footer section 4 and is checked
"same as previous."

3) I have unselected all the "same as previous" and no longer have
different odd and even pages. However now my pages are numbered as
such: 21 (desired starting page #), 23, 24, 22, 23, 24, 25, 22, 22,
22, 23, 24, and 25.

I have deleted all the footers and have started over and ended up with
the mess above. I'm ready to manually put in text boxes for all the
footers but I still want to know how to fix this problem. Any help
will be appreciated.

FYI: my document has a lot of formatting with tables, line numbers,
tabs, pics, etc. I don't want to save it as a txt file and start the
formatting over. However, if that is the only solution, I will know it
for next time.

Julie

P.S. My search for "page numbers" yielded no results in this forum. I
found that odd also. Maybe I'm "page-numbered-cursed."

 

[Julie27]

I forgot to include my specs.

I'm using MS Word 2004 for Mac, version 11.3.5
OSX 10.4.10
on a PowerBook G4

Julie

 

[Elliott Roper]

You should carefully check all the magic spells related to *section*
breaks at each place where the numbering goes titsup.

I have a Word document that I'm updating. It originally contained 9
pages and now contains 13. I need for it start numbering at page 21
and I'd like it to have different odd and even pages. I've done all
these things in the past and had no problems. However, today I'm not
so lucky.

Here are the glitches.
1) the 2nd page is listed as an "odd page" when it should be an "even
page." It contains page number 23. I don't see any next page breaks
that would create an invisible page 22.

Check for a section break (odd page) that you did not really mean to
say.

2) Page 22 is after page 24. It is in footer section 4 and is checked
"same as previous."

I think you should check for a 'restart numbering at page' in your
section break magic.

3) I have unselected all the "same as previous" and no longer have
different odd and even pages. However now my pages are numbered as
such: 21 (desired starting page #), 23, 24, 22, 23, 24, 25, 22, 22,
22, 23, 24, and 25.

I don't think the 'same as previous' has any effect on page numbering.
Is there not a separate numbering checkbox thingy in the section break
dialogue?

I have deleted all the footers and have started over and ended up with
the mess above. I'm ready to manually put in text boxes for all the
footers but I still want to know how to fix this problem. Any help
will be appreciated.

Don't panic! Go tidy up your section breaks.

FYI: my document has a lot of formatting with tables, line numbers,
tabs, pics, etc. I don't want to save it as a txt file and start the
formatting over. However, if that is the only solution, I will know it
for next time.

Numbering is a slippery little subject. Once it gets into a mess it is
hard to untangle it, because in their wisdom Microsoft dumbed down a
complex interface to a complex mechanism and made it hard to drive. A
bit like taking the bushes out of your steering arm. (obligatory car
analogy - sorry!)

Julie

P.S. My search for "page numbers" yielded no results in this forum. I
found that odd also. Maybe I'm "page-numbered-cursed."

We are *all* page number cursed. Feel free to ask more questions as you
tidy things up. If all else fails, don't go all the way back to text.
Try these two techniques in order.
1. Copy all but the last paragraph mark of your whole document and
paste it into a brand new document.
2. Copy and paste the nicely formatted tables back into a new file one
by one and re-do the numbering.

PS. I strongly recommend doing your numbering based on styles. i.e.
define some numbered styles and use them exclusively. Have a look at
Clive's /Bend Word to Your Will/ and anything about numbering written
by Shauna Kelly at
http://word.mvps.org/Mac/WordMacHome.html
and
http://www.shaunakelly.com/

Bend Word.. is a set of recipes for not letting Word get out of
control, and Shauna's stuff is pure gold for keeping numbers properly
disciplined.

 

[Julie27]

Thanks a bunch, Elliott. I took your advice. I read what the articles
about numbering by Shauna Kelly in the site you mentioned above. It's
been at least 8 months since I've been to that site. I totally forgot
about it, and also about "Bend to your Will."

I tried to use Ctrl+F9 to add field braces but nothing happened.
Instead I decided to tidy up those section breaks by removing them and
then adding them back in one at a time. I went to Normal view, removed
every break and then saved my document with a different name in case I
really boogered it up more. I first worked on my footers to get my
page numbers started and then I added the section and page breaks back
in one at time. It worked. I now have consecutive page numbers with
odd and even pages.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the tips.

Julie

 

[Elliott Roper]

I tried to use Ctrl+F9 to add field braces but nothing happened.

yep, Command f9 might have been a bit more exciting. ;-)

Instead I decided to tidy up those section breaks by removing them and
then adding them back in one at a time. I went to Normal view, removed
every break and then saved my document with a different name in case I
really boogered it up more.

Good call. It is always wise to plan your escape route before doing
something scary. I have lost count of the number of times I have
boogered something up more than it was before.

I first worked on my footers to get my
page numbers started and then I added the section and page breaks back
in one at time. It worked. I now have consecutive page numbers with
odd and even pages.

Thanks so much. I appreciate the tips.

It is great to hear that some of my deranged advice actually works.
Thank you.