insert page #'s brings in what looks like a field code instead

[Dr. Rick]

I have a rather large document that I formerly had regular page numbers at the top right of each page (i.e., nothing special). I somehow inadvertently created 3 sections, which I deleted (after finding out how to do this on-line)--now it's all in one section. I went back to page 1 and went to "insert" and "page number" and then chose the one showing a number in upper right corner.




I've added page numbering to Word documents countless times in the past, and the expected result was a "1" at the upper right corner of the first page (and sequential numbers after that to the end).

As you can see below, the Page number comes out looking like some sort of "field merge codes" (I think that's the term), rather than a simple Arabic numeral "1".


Experimentally,I created a new document and tried the same procedure, and got identical results, so it seems more likely that it's some setting I inadvertently changed rather than something specific to the document.


Any ides would be appreciated.


RJ
Try as I might I can't seem to shrink the snip below: ...
Scratch that, the snip after being pasted here many times, disappears when I try to post this message. I'll try sending it separately, which seemed to work on another post of mine.

[Charles Kenyon]

In Word, page numbers are fields. You are displaying the field.
The simplest way to toggle this option setting is with Alt+F9. (Many computers require adding the Fn key to this shortcut.)
It can also be changed under File > Options.
Dealing with Fields in Microsoft Word
Page Numbers in Word 2007-2024 (365)
Using Fields in Microsoft Word

[Charles Kenyon]

How to post a question on this MSOffice forum

[Dr. Rick]

C. Kenyon
Effortless fix. This was so quick (Alt-F9) that it made me wish I had other problems for you to solve. I'm sure I must have inadvertently pressed F9 when trying to lower audio volume (Alt F9 without the Fn key on my laptop).
Thanks so much; it was a small but VERY irritating pebble in my shoe.
RJ

[Dr. Rick]

C.K.
Thanks for the tips on how to post. I thought I was doing all that, but I guess not. I was lucky that I could reproduce the example I needed just by typing, cutting, and pasting.


Is a "snip" from the "snipping tool" the same as a screenshot? It seems so to me, but I don't seem to be able to shrink the snip after it's pasted.


RJ

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by Dr. Rick

C.K.
Thanks for the tips on how to post. I thought I was doing all that, but I guess not. I was lucky that I could reproduce the example I needed just by typing, cutting, and pasting.


Is a "snip" from the "snipping tool" the same as a screenshot? It seems so to me, but I don't seem to be able to shrink the snip after it's pasted.


RJ

You cannot resize in this forum interface, as far as I know.
If you have a picture editor on your computer, you can do it at that end.


I use TechSmith's SnagIt which includes an editor. You can get a free trial version.