Mar 15, 2019

Page numbering problem

Using Google Docs, how do I get that the page numbering starts from a specific page of a document?

Also, I would like to create a document with summary (with page numbers) so that the pages of the summary have the Roman numbering while the other pages have the Arabic numbering.

So, how do I create a document with this type of mixed numbering?

Thanks

Bye

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Docs,Microsoft Windows,Personal use

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Last edited Mar 15, 2019

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Cadal - Community Specialist

Community Specialist

Nov 20, 2019

Hi everyone,

Just circling back on this thread to let you know that this and other improvements will begin rolling out to Google Docs users in the upcoming weeks, in case others are searching for this feature and land on this thread. You can find out more about customizing page numbers through our Blog Post or this Help Center article.

Thanks!

Community Specialist Cadal - Community Specialist recommended this

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All Replies (28)

Jo S.

Diamond Product Expert

I've been volunteering in the help forums since 2013. I do NOT work for Google.

Mar 15, 2019

Hi there,

Unfortunately, at this time it's only possible to start page numbering on the first or second page of a Docs document (via Insert > Header & page number > Page number), and the numbering can only begin with the number one regardless of which page you start on.

Also, Docs doesn't currently support mixed numbers. Sorry about that!

To help influence future feature changes or additions in Docs, I encourage you to provide feedback about this directly to the Docs team by following these steps:

Open a document.
Click Help > Report a problem.
Enter your feedback.

Although the product team is unable to respond to individual users directly, they review this feedback regularly and use it to help improve the product over time. The more users who have this request, the more likely it is the team will make a change.

~Jo

Last edited Mar 15, 2019

TMS LittleJ

Sep 2, 2019

i have a solution ....add the title pages etc at the end and DO NOT UPDATE THE CONTENTS page ...before download doc or converting to PDF !!!!!

D.S.W.

Sep 25, 2019

I have the same problem. I can not see how adding a title page at the end would help when writing a book-it all needs to be in order. When you upload to have it printed via publisher. I need the title page at the beginning. I am searching for a better option. There are book formats out there I am sure. Open Office is a pretty good free word app. Will accept Microsoft word docs as well. And you can start numbering on a different page-even though it is a little tricky. I have used this for over a year now, with no problems. But I started having issues recently-not sure why but it keeps crashing and saves an older version of my work-over and over-so thought Google Docs was my Answer. Guess not. I do like Google docs otherwise-May just use it anyway.

Savannah Stone

Oct 6, 2019

I'm writing a book and page one is where even numbers are usually at on a book. Basically, odd page numbers are at the left pages and even is at the right which is the wrongg way. I could change that by making the cover page one but then it would look strange. Anyways, when I change the one to two all the other numbers are two! What the heck!

Jo S.

Diamond Product Expert

I've been volunteering in the help forums since 2013. I do NOT work for Google.

Oct 6, 2019

Hi, Savannah,

That's happening because you aren't inserting page numbers properly -- you're just adding a number to the header, and that content will repeat on every page.

How to Insert Odd/Even Page Numbers

Remove the numbers you inserted manually.
Then put your cursor in your header on the first page and go to Insert > Header & page number > Page number and select the option that best meets your needs.
Next, click on Options in the header area and select "Different odd/even."
Finally, go to the second page of your document and right-justify page #2.

Now your odd numbers will be on the left side of the page and the even numbers will be on the right side.

Does that resolve it for you?

~Jo

Savannah Stone

Oct 7, 2019

Jo,

Well now every other number is a two and the rest are blank. I followed all of what to do but it didn’t work.

What do you think I am doing wrong?

Savannah Stone

Oct 7, 2019

Oh heck this I’ll just keep it as it is.

Jo S.

Diamond Product Expert

I've been volunteering in the help forums since 2013. I do NOT work for Google.

Oct 7, 2019

Hi, Savannah,

Here is a video I created for you that shows you step by step how to set up odd/even page numbers.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zxDpl-v36f7mBudavsaC8BlORMEdwIBV/view

Does that help?

~Jo

User 12879695564507635370

Oct 14, 2019

Hi, I have a workaround.... I have two documents: the firs one has all the pre-numbered pages (cover, summary, etc) and the other one starts the page numbering on the second page and at the first one I have the index. This is the way a have found to manage to solve this problem until Google implements this functionality. I hope it will help you. Regards

crystal k

Oct 21, 2019

this is terrible

Gustavo Antoniassi

Oct 26, 2019

I needed a way to remove numbering on the first 10 pages, but start the eleventh page numbered as "11" and so on.

On the end of my 10th page, I went to: Insert > Break > Section break (next page).

After that, I went to the header on the 11th page (where I wanted the numbering to start) and unchecked the "Link to the previous section" box.

After that, I cut (CTRL+X) the header from the 10th page, with the page number formatted as I wanted it to be, and pasted it on the 11th page.

And that's it! The first 10 pages don't have numbering on them, but the eleventh page starts at page number "11" as I wanted it to be.

Gil Hockman

Oct 28, 2019

Genius @Gustavo Antoniassi ! And perfect timing :)

Last edited Oct 28, 2019

Cadal - Community Specialist

Community Specialist