cannot renumber pages in Pages 10.0 (6748)

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Level 1

31 points

cannot renumber pages in Pages 10.0 (6748)

I am writing a book. Each chapter is a separate Pages file so I only have to deal with formatting pictures and text within a limited doc, not the whole thing.

Each chapter file starts with the next page number, e.g. Chapter 1 (1-10), Chapter 2 (11-21), etc. If I go back and add a page to Chapter 1 (1-11), then I have to open Chapter 2 and increase the starting page number, then Chapter 3…. I only have one Chapter file open at time.

In my case, after editing, Chapter 4 went from ending with page 47 to ending with page 50.

I open Chapter 5 and change the entry from 48 to 50. Immediately, all the page numbers jump to 50. I go back and type 48 in and all the numbers jump to 48.

I erase the page number and click in the header space (UR corner) and see Insert Page Number and click on 1. The page number immediately jumps to 48, with the pages indexed as before.

I erase the 48 and type in 50 and I am back to where I started.

Some previous posts have said to click on the menu item Document, then Section . There is nothing called Section on my screen.

I am at a loss as to how to get the page numbers right.

MacBook Pro 15", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 22, 2020 2:18 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barry

Level 9

59,957 points

May 22, 2020 9:07 PM in response to Cosman

Hi Cosman,

Regarding "This is rediculous programming."

Pages menu> Provide Pages Feedback: Choose a category ("Feature Enhancement" is probably closest to what you're asking about) and make a request that access to the Section inspector be returned to its previous path. (You won't be alone in this).

Regarding "Finally, I figured it out. "

To open the Section inspector in Numbers 10, you must click on a page thumbnail in the left sidebar. The Section panel will appear in the right sidebar.

To dismiss the Section inspector: Click on any page in the body of the document.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 2

Cosman Author

Level 1

31 points

May 22, 2020 2:42 PM in response to Cosman

Now it gets even odder. I decided to quit the file I had and open it again. But I decided to click the Revert To button to save time.

The file opened with the Format / Section window showing on the right. I could change the page number to 50, with it indexing the rest.

Finally, I figured it out. To activate the Section window, you have to be in the Format mode and click either in the in the gray area to the side of the text window, or in the small space at the top/bottom between the text area and the header/footer fields.

As far as I can tell, there is no menu item that will bring up the Section window. If the whole window is just the width of the text area, then there is no gray strip to click on.

I have spent several hours searching the Help section (no mention) and trying everything to fix this problem. This is rediculous programming.

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Answer 3

Cosman Author

Level 1

31 points

May 23, 2020 8:22 AM in response to Barry

Barry,

Yes, I have complained to Apple already. My Pages document setup is to have no thumbnails and little to no margins on either side of the page. I do this because I frequently have other files beside the Pages doc for reference and I need to fit them on my screen.

That leaves me with only the possibility of clicking in the little gap above/below the page between the header/footers.

It took half a day to discover this, with no help from Apple Help, or a web search (except this forum).

I know Apple monitors these pages, so I will reiterate this is bad programming, as is having menu items with the same name and different functions in various places. I doubt Apple cares, since this has existed for years.

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Answer 4

Barry

Level 9

59,957 points

May 23, 2020 6:27 PM in response to Cosman

"My Pages document setup is to have no thumbnails and little to no margins on either side of the page. I do this because I frequently have other files beside the Pages doc for reference and I need to fit them on my screen."

"That leaves me with only the possibility of clicking in the little gap above/below the page between the header/footers."

How often, with each chapter in a separate document, do you need to open or close the Section Inspector?

If it is only to set the starting page for this chapter, it's unlikely you will require reference to the other open files during this one-time procedure. You might find a click on the (visible) icon at top left of your document window, plus one of the then exposed page thumbnail quicker than the single 'click in the little gap' of your described procedure.

Regards,

Barry

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cannot renumber pages in Pages 10.0 (6748)

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