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Add basic page numbering

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Learn how to add basic page numbering to your pages in Adobe InDesign.

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Note:

Equitable Language: We are replacing non-inclusive language from InDesign 2022 (version 17.0) onwards, to reflect core Adobe values of inclusivity. Any reference to Master page is replaced by Parent page in our Help articles for the English, Danish, Hungarian, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Portuguese, and Japanese locales.

You can add a current page number marker to your pages to specify where a page number sits on a page and how it looks. Because a page number marker updates automatically, the page number it displays is always correct—even as you add, remove, or rearrange pages in the document. Page number markers can be formatted and styled as text.

Add a page number marker to a parent page

Page number markers are commonly added to parent pages. When parent pages are applied to document pages, the page numbering is updated automatically, similar to headers and footers.

If the automatic page number is on a parent page, it displays the parent page prefix. On a document page, the automatic page number displays the page number. On a pasteboard, it displays PB.

  1. In the Pages panel, double-click the parent page to which you want to add your page number. To create parent pages, see Create parents.

  2. Create a text frame large enough to hold the longest page number and any text you want to appear next to it. Position the text frame where you want the page number to appear.

    If your document has facing pages, create separate text frames for the left and right parent pages.

  3. In the page number text frame, add any text that will come before or after the page number (such as “Page “).

  4. Position the insertion point where you want the page number to appear, and then choose Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number.

  5. Apply the parent page to the document pages on which you want the page numbering to appear. To apply parent pages, see Apply parent pages.

Note:

To remove the page number from the first page in the document, you have two options. Either apply a different or the None parent, or override and delete the parent text frame on the document page. Ctrl/Cmd+Shift-click a parent text frame to override it.

Change the page numbering style

By default, pages are numbered using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...); however, you can number pages using upper or lowercase Roman (i, ii, iii...) or alphanumeric (a, b, c...) numbering. You can also number pages using preceding zeros. Each part of the document that uses a different numbering style is called a section.

In Japanese, Chinese, or Korean versions, by default, Arabic numerals are used for page numbers. However, if you use the Numbering & Section Options command, you can specify the style of numbering, such as Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, Kanji, and so on. The Style option allows you to select the number of digits in the page number, for example, 001 or 0001. Each part of the document that uses a different numbering style is called a section. For more information on sections, see Define section numbering.

Use the Numbering & Section Options dialog box to change the page numbering style to use a different format. You can also use this dialog box to restart page numbering or to start page numbering at a number you specify.

  1. In the Pages panel, select the page where you want the new numbering style section to begin.

  2. Choose Layout > Numbering & Section Options.

  3. Specify options, and then click OK. See Document numbering options.

A section indicator icon  appears above the page icon in the Pages panel, indicating the start of a new section.

Note:

If a number or letter appears before the current page number you inserted, it means that a section prefix is included. If you don’t want this prefix, deselect Include Prefix When Numbering Pages in the Numbering & Section Options dialog box.

Common page numbering tasks

InDesign offers several different features that help you create page numbering effects.

To do this:

Do this:

Add page numbering to documents in a book.

See Number pages, chapters, and paragraphs in a book.

Add section numbers and chapter numbers.

See Add section and chapter numbering.

Create running headers or running footers that use text variables such as the create date, filename, or the current heading or title.

See Create headers and footers and Text variables.

Create a “Page x of y” effect in which x is the current page and y is the total number of pages.

Insert a Current Page Number marker for x, and insert the Last Page Number text variable for y (choose Type > Text Variables > Insert Variable > Last Page Number).

Create a “Continued on page x” story jump.

See Add automatic page numbers for story jumps.

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