First page footer numbering starts with number 2

[parsonsv]

Context: My document has two sections. Section 1 is page numbered i, ii, iii and Section 2 is page numbered 1, 2, 3, etc.

Problem: Section 2 actually starts on an even page, and that's what the business wants. However, even though the number format in the footer is set as Start at 1, the number actually shows as 2.



There are no blank pages inserted between the sections and none print out to explain the bump in page number.

I've experimented with all the different section break types and document settings but can't resolve this.

Solutions?

Thank you for your help.

[Stefan Blom]

Since you have an even page section break, the default number will be 2. In print, Word adds a "filler" page, if necessary, so that the first page is a left (even-numbered page).

What you can do is create nested fields to recalculate page numbers as follows:

{ = { PAGE } - 1 }

Each pair of field delimiters, { }, must be inserted by pressing Ctrl+F9 on the keyboard. Press F9 to update fields in the selection. To show/hide field codes, press Alt+F9.

However, note that if you use page numbers in your table of contents, or (say) in an automatic cross-reference, Word will display the number represented by the PAGE field.

[parsonsv]

Thank you. Nesting does indeed force the page number to appear as 1. However, as you mentioned, the PAGE number is what displays in my TOC. So, I'm again without a fix.

I don't suppose there is any way to get the TOC AND the Footer to both display 1?

[Stefan Blom]

I don't suppose there is any way to get the TOC AND the Footer to both display 1?

Unfortunately not—unless you can use a next page section break of course.

[parsonsv]

Originally Posted by Stefan Blom

Unfortunately not—unless you can use a next page section break of course.

When I use Next Page, the section starts on the Odd page and Word inserts a blank page before it. I would simply like the section to start on the next page (which in this case would be an even page) and allow the number to start at 1.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by parsonsv

When I use Next Page, the section starts on the Odd page and Word inserts a blank page before it. I would simply like the section to start on the next page (which in this case would be an even page) and allow the number to start at 1.

If you use a Next Page section break and then, in the preceeding section (which is ending on an even page) you insert a manual page break, you will have a page numbered 1 on a page that is physically, an even page (on the left if printed duplex).

However, this has nothing to do with linking or not linking the header. It has to do with starting page numbering in the section at 1. This is done in the format page numbers dialog. You may or may not want to unlink the page header. This is not needed to change the numbering or to change from Roman numerals to Arabic.

Of course, if Section 1 expands so that it ends on an odd-numbered page naturally, you will need to remove the manual page break.

[parsonsv]

Attached is an example to show how the extra page appears between page v and page 1.

I even tried adding a manual page break before the Next Page section break, but no difference.

[Stefan Blom]

The problem here is likely "Different odd and even pages" which you selected on the Header & Footer Tools Design tab. ("Mirror margins" in Page Setup has the same effect.) The page whose number is restarted to 1 will be forced to the be a right-hand page.

[Robert2]

In your original post, you wrote that your document had 2 sections. The document you attached to your latest post has 7 different sections. It includes 6 Section Breaks:

1 Continuous Section Break
1 Even Page Section Break
4 Next Page Section Break

Are there any practical reasons for so many Section Breaks? For so many different Section Breaks?

Why not use the "Page Break Before" Paragraph attribute when you want a specific paragraph to appear on a new page? Most of the time Section Breaks are overkill.

What’s more, you have paragraphs with the "Page Break Before" attribute immediately following Next Page Section Breaks. This is redundant.

On page 1, you have a tab character in front of the Even Page Section Break. This tab character seems unnecessary.

As I understand things, you want Roman page numbering from start of the document to the end of the TOC. And you want Arabic numbering after the TOC, i.e. for the pages with main document contents.

I have created a modified version of your original document.

I have removed most of the Section Breaks, keeping only one Section Break between the TOC and the main document contents. The page numbering is Roman until the TOC ends. The page numbering is Arabic from the first actual page of the document to end of the document.

Is this what you wanted?

[parsonsv]

Sadly, the multiple sections breaks are all because there are different fields pulling different values in the headers of each of those sections. So, they can't be the same.

In your example, I notice there are no longer different Odd and Even pages. The post before yours mentioned that my issue was because of that style choice. When I apply different Odd and Even pages to your sample, I get the empty page again.

So, I guess the deal is... if I am going to have different Odd and Even pages, I'm going to have to accept that the first page will always start on an Odd page.

If I don't want that, then I need to make the footers universal across the template (for example, numbers in the center) and I have to remove different Odd and Even pages.

THANK YOU ALL for the help today. While I don't have a fix that will allow me to keep the current template, I do have answers to what is possible and what isn't.

I truly appreciate the advice and samples!