Word ‘03: page number/phantom page issue

[Wizdar]

I’ve got a situation that has me totally stumped. I inherited a report that has a title page (first page of the document) that needs to be removed. There was a section break between the title page and the one following.

Title page removed. Now the resulting first page will not allow me to assign it as page one with the insert page number function. I can assign it any page number I choose, as long as it’s not page one.

I solved the problem by copy/paste into a blank document, where the page numbering magically corrects itself. But it leaves me wondering: how the heck do I tell the original document that the first page no longer exists?

Can anybody help me solve this mystery? I’ve solved the immediate problem, but that I can’t fix the original document is driving me crazy.

 

[BlueHorizon]

Hi Wizdar,

Is it set for even/odd headers and footers? Not sure this would do it but it came to mind...
HTH,


Best,
Blue Horizon

http://www.bluehorizontraining.com

 

[Wizdar]

No, that’s not it, although I didn’t check until you mentioned it. (We don't normally do even/odd pages.)

I even tried using the Remove Hidden Data add-in in hopes that it would eliminate my “phantom page,” but that didn’t work either.

Also, we would normally use Different first page, but playing with that was no help.

Thanks for the response.

 

[xlhelp]

Check if under File, Page Setup, Layout tab, "Different First Page" is checked. Uncheck it, if it is.

Member- AAAA Association Against Acronym Abusers

 

[Wizdar]

No change whether checked or unchecked.

 

[fumei]

When you removed the first page, did you also delete the section break itself?

When you try to insert a page number, under Page Number Format, does it show Continue from previous section?

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[Wizdar]

Yup, the section break was removed. And I tried both Continue from previous section (just for Ss & Gs) and Start at... with a 1. It won’t let me Start at 0, one of my wackier ideas.

Also, Show number on first page, checked or unchecked, leaves a page number (2) on the [now] first page.

And, Different first page in Page Setup makes no difference with regards to page numbering, but it does affect other header/footer contents.

Finally, at least at this point, uncheck Different first page in Page Setup, then insert the page number with Show number on first page unchecked, and the Page Setup reverts to Different first page.

 

[fumei]

Finally, at least at this point, uncheck Different first page in Page Setup, then insert the page number with Show number on first page unchecked, and the Page Setup reverts to Different first page.

Yes, it HAS to do that. If you UNCHECK show number on first page, the only way it can do that is...to make the first page different...because it IS different. It does not have a page number, which is different from the next page, ergo, it is different. To be different, it has to make Different first page = True.

They are directly connected.

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[Wizdar]

I came to the same conclusion.

However, page one is still page two as far as Word is concerned. At least in this case.

 

[fumei]

I am rather curious. Is it possible to look at the document? If is clear of any information you would not like seen, could you send it to me?

my handle at telus dot net

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture