Page Numbering in OpenOffice.org Writer (a tutorial)

[fctr]

Hi n9bauer,

I will have a look at this if I get time in the next few days. It would be helpful if you could upload an example document to work with, showing the behaviour you describe.

BFN,

I have the solution, as I had the same problem, and it was KILLING me.

Set your title page to "first page" with no headers, footers, etc, and "next style" should be your custom style "TOC". Create TOC with footers and page numbering set as you like, and next style should be "TOC".

Go to the beginning of your FIRST line of non-TOC text and click "Insert->Manual Break->Page Break->Style->Default (Or whatever the rest of your page styles should be)->Change Page Number->1"

Viola! I can post an example, if necessary.

Damn, I'm good...At least I am if I think I understood your problem...:)

-=> Andrew
http://www.fctr.net

[n9bauer]

Hi n9bauer,

I will have a look at this if I get time in the next few days. It would be helpful if you could upload an example document to work with, showing the behaviour you describe.

BFN,

I have the solution, as I had the same problem, and it was KILLING me.

Set your title page to "first page" with no headers, footers, etc, and "next style" should be your custom style "TOC". Create TOC with footers and page numbering set as you like, and next style should be "TOC".

Go to the beginning of your FIRST line of non-TOC text and click "Insert->Manual Break->Page Break->Style->Default (Or whatever the rest of your page styles should be)->Change Page Number->1"

Viola! I can post an example, if necessary.

Damn, I'm good...At least I am if I think I understood your problem...

-=> Andrew
http://www.fctr.net

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately, the problem I am having is that what follows my table of contents is a sub-document for chapter one kept in a separate file. That means that when I do what you suggest, I end up with a blank page 1 in the master document and the first page of the sub-document is p. 2. (I'm sorry, I don't know how to explain this more clearly, but, if you like, you can see what I mean in the document I attached earlier.)

I could avoid all of these problems if I put everything in one document, instead of having sub-docs for each chapter. But there are some advantages for me in having each chapter in a separate sub-document, so I'd like to make this work if possible.

Best,
Nathan

[fctr]

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately, the problem I am having is that what follows my table of contents is a sub-document for chapter one kept in a separate file. That means that when I do what you suggest, I end up with a blank page 1 in the master document and the first page of the sub-document is p. 2. (I'm sorry, I don't know how to explain this more clearly, but, if you like, you can see what I mean in the document I attached earlier.)

Ahhh.. I see said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw...

I've been fooling around with it, and when you change Diss-Chapter Title to reset page numbering back to 1, EVERY chapter starts at 1; once again, not what you want. Perhaps make a new style just like Diss-Chapter Title and start chapters 2-4 with it, but this time DON'T make them reset page numbering?

Sadly, I don't have any more time to fart around with it.

Good luck...That's some DEEP stuff in the dissertation...:)

[Paul]

I could avoid all of these problems if I put everything in one document, instead of having sub-docs for each chapter. But there are some advantages for me in having each chapter in a separate sub-document, so I'd like to make this work if possible.

OK, I couldn't get rid of the unwanted blank page at first either, however I can make the pages number from 1 for the first chapter by setting an offset of -1 (so the blank page could be discarded at print time). However the problem I then see is that the pages in the TOC don't update to the new page numbers and show the 1st page as page 2

However, by changing the Breaks in the Text Flow tab of the paragraph style to after rather than before, I was able to get rid of the blank page and get the TOC page numbers to work correctly, but I'm not sure that this applies the correct page styles that you want in the rest of the document?

Sorry I don't have a complete solution

BFN,

[fctr]

However, by changing the Breaks in the Text Flow tab of the paragraph style to after rather than before, I was able to get rid of the blank page and get the TOC page numbers to work correctly, but I'm not sure that this applies the correct page styles that you want in the rest of the document?

Even though this thread isn't about me, I still want to hear a solution to this. I ALMOST understand your solution. Care to explain it some more, perhaps with an example?

[n9bauer]

Thanks, Paul. I've been distracted by American Thanksgiving madness the last few days, but I should have time to try your suggestions tomorrow. I'll let you know how it works for me.

Best,
Nathan

[n9bauer]

OK, I couldn't get rid of the unwanted blank page at first either, however I can make the pages number from 1 for the first chapter by setting an offset of -1 (so the blank page could be discarded at print time). However the problem I then see is that the pages in the TOC don't update to the new page numbers and show the 1st page as page 2

However, by changing the Breaks in the Text Flow tab of the paragraph style to after rather than before, I was able to get rid of the blank page and get the TOC page numbers to work correctly, but I'm not sure that this applies the correct page styles that you want in the rest of the document?

Sorry I don't have a complete solution

BFN,

Thanks, Paul. I ended up doing something slightly different, although I believe we both end up with the desired result. Basically, I renamed all the relevant styles used in my first chapter (for the chapter title, the headers and the subheaders). This allowed me to associate a page break with the first chapter title (thereby restarting the page numbering at 1 (without restarting the numbering for the subsequent chapters). Of course, I knew how to do this previously, but it messed up the Table of Contents in my master document. (The chapter one title would be at a different outline level than the subsequent chapter levels.)

Today I figured a workaround for this problem. I redid the Table of Contents using the following styles for each level of the outline:
1. Preliminary sections (e.g., Acknowledgments, etc.)
2. Chapter Title (chapter 1 only)
3. Headers (chapter 1 only)
4. Sub-Headers (chapter 1 only)
5. Chapter Title (all other chapters)
6. Headers (all other chapters)
7. Sub-Headers (all other chapters)

Then, I fix the indents so that level 5 is even with level 1, 3 is even with 6, and 4 with 7. Now everything's fine, except chapter two is numbered as 1 (since it's the first of it's level in the outline). But I can set it to start at two, so, after that, everything looks good. It's not a particularly elegant solution, but it works and it didn't require much change of how I had things set up.

I hope that's clear, in case anyone else is having the same problem. If it's not, just reply on this thread and I'll try to clarify what I mean.

[fctr]

Thanks, Paul. I ended up doing something slightly different, although I believe we both end up with the desired result.
I hope that's clear, in case anyone else is having the same problem. If it's not, just reply on this thread and I'll try to clarify what I mean.

OK, this is a PERFECT example of why OOo needs to have "sectioning" and "page numbering" completely redone in a MUCH MORE useful way. I hate to say it but M$ Word runs circles around OOo when it comes to these things.

I anxiously await the day I can completely remove myself from the Microsoft world. OOo brings me one step closer. Thanks guys (and gals)!

[Paul]

Hi Nathan,

That's an ingenious workaround! Thanks for sharing it with us

BFN,

[Paul]

While looking at my settings the other day I noticed:

Tools > Options > OpenOffice.org Writer > Print > Other > Print automatically inserted blank pages

It appears that this is selected on by default. I wonder if deselecting this would have solved the problem in an easier way?

BFN,

[Jyles]

Please forgive me if I'm asking the same question as someone else. I've read all the other posts, and don't see my particular issue.

I'm writing a legal brief. It has:

1. A cover with no footer or page numbering (Page Style:BriefCover)
2. Frontal matter containing a Table of Contents and Table of Authorities. It has small Roman numbering starting at (i). (Page Style:BriefContents)
3. The body of the brief with Arabic numbering starting at page 1. (Page Style:BriefBody)

I've inserted the proper manual breaks in between each page style with numbering restarting at 1 for each break. The numbering works fine, and everything looks fine on the screen.

However, when I print, OOo prints an extra page after my Cover page. I've found that anytime a manual break results in a break between two odd numbered pages, OOo automatically inserts an extra page (You'll note that Page i of my Contents shows 3/5 in the Status Bar when it is really the second page of my document, right after my Cover.

If I were printing two-sided, the added page would be welcome as it forces all odd-numbered pages to the right, but I'm only printing single-sided, so the added page after the cover is a nuisance.

I'm adding an attachment to illustrate my problem.

Any ideas? I'm using version 2.0.

Jyles

[Jyles]

Never mind my previous post.

I just installed 2.1 which has the option of unchecking "Tools > Options > OpenOffice.org Writer > Print > Other > Print automatically inserted blank pages" (My copy of version 2.0 didn't have that option.)

I unchecked it and everything is fine.

As to comparing OOo with Word, I remember the old days (remember DOS?) when magazines would compare word processors. They made a point to distinguish between ease of learning and ease of use. For example, in those days, I used PC-Write, which was nearly impossible to learn, but by dedicating myself to it, I could make it do things my WordPerfect colleagues could only dream of.

I see OOo much the same. No, it's not as easy to learn as Word, but once learned, it's just as easy to use if not more so. I *like* the fact that it all but forces me to use styles. It makes me do things "right" so that, when I'm all done with my project and decide to widen a paragraph indent, all I need do is change one setting in my styles. I've taken the time to create and modify my styles and I'm so happy I did. My colleagues who use Word are constantly asking me how to do things, and even as easy as Word is, my assistants have still not figured out how to number a brief with section breaks in Word. I just sit back and smile when they ask me how to do it.

There are also some things that OOo can do that Word just can't. For example, I like to suppress Widows, but not Orphans. That's an option with OOo, but not with Word, in which I have to suppress both or neither. Also, OOo can print in booklet form. Word requires the Publisher add-on to accomplish that task.

What's really ironic is that Word used to be criticized by the WordPerfect advocates because it always took many more mouse clicks to accomplish a task in Word than WP.

Jyles[/i]

[briangshea]

Okay, please forgive my stupid question. I know it's been answered a 100 times over and I've read 90% of the posts on this matter but I just can't get this to work.

I've retarted from scratch 6times now.

Here is what i need, and how I've failed to do it.

I need a cover sheet (First Page) no headers/footers 0.75 margins-- Got it no problem by modifying the first page style.

Then a section of Front matter, data rights, regulations, TOC TOF. pages numbered using roman nurmerals (starting at page ii) -- Got second page to work using a FrontMatter style based on First Page style.

However, i cannot get the next few pages to take the FrontMatter style. It changes to default. When i try to apply the frontmatter style, OOo2 will format my First page (cursor is on third page!!! ) to front matter, augggghhh.

This is where I'm stuck, I've got a manual break between Cover sheet (first page) and the front matter section (second page) but when i fill the second page and start on the third it goes back to default and I cannot chage it.

If i insert another manual break so i now i have 4 pages, i can change the 4th page to front matter, but the thrid remains as default and cannot be changed

Okay after the front matter, i need the default style with header/footer on and pages numbered 1,2,3...666 and so on untill the appendix.

So I think i have the basics down, but I'm missing a key point. Can someone PLEASE HELP, email me or post a reply.

Thanks for any help!!!

[briangshea]

Well, i guess the 8th time is a charm. Anyway, this is what the problem was. When i created a new page style it would be set so that the next page's style would be default.

I tried to change this in other documents, but OOo2 would crash, after sever crashes i never attempted to change it.

I decided that maybe if, when i create the Front Matter Style i would set the next page style then, and if it didn't crash that would be a solution. low and behold, it workd, i can now have my Cover Sheet, Front Matter and Body with seperate and distinct styles.

WOW, i sure hope OOo fixes this major malfunction. Also agree with the person that posted the blurb on document sections, M$ does a much better job at them. Sections should apply to entire pages not the text, it would make life so much easier.

But the page styles are nice, a bit bassackwards, but workable.

[Ed Stephenson]

I just joined this forum, hoping to find this topic. Thanks to you, I have managed to find out how to number the pages. I still haven't been able to get the page numbering style I want, namely, odd pages bottom right, even pages bottom left, with no numbers on title or blank pages. But at least I got the page numbers in the middle (bottom), and an unnumbered title page, which is an improvement.

I've tried various suggested methods of left page and right page numbering styles, but I can't get them to be different (either always left, or right, or center). Probably I still haven't twigged.

A general comment on this: although OOo is a great alternative to WinWord (I lost WinWord in a crash, and a friend proposed OOo) I'm dismayed that a process like this is so difficult. I mean, the numbering format I want - odd pages bottom right, even pages bottom left, with no numbers on title or blank pages - is a fairly standard one for books or articles. You would think there would be a toggle somewhere to implement it without going through all the hassle described here (grateful though I am to learn how to do it).

I have another problem,but it doesn't relate to the current topic, so I'll make a fresh post.