Page numbering problems

Neeli · Oct 5, 2007

Does anyone know how to get Word to start the first page of Chapter Two with the first page after Chapter One, without having both chapters in one document and without manually adjusting the page number? I would think there should be a way to link them, but I can't seem to find a way.

I don't want to have one huge document with all my chapters in it. I was hoping the Master Document feature would solve my problems, but it seems to keep everything in one document in page view, which is how I'd want to view it.

What does everyone else do?

PeeDee · Oct 5, 2007

I have one document with all my chapters in it, so if page 13 is the last page of chapter 1, page 14 is the start of chapter 2. And then I just write.

Beyond that, I have no clue.

Rolling Thunder · Oct 5, 2007

On the MSWord toolbar select: Insert/Page Numbers. Click format on the pop up window and select the 'start with' option along with the number you want to begin at.

Note that if you edit a preceding or following chapter and add more/take away pages, the numbers won't reflect any changes unless you edit each file.

Neeli · Oct 5, 2007

Hi Rllgthunder,

That is what I consider manually adjusting the page numbers. I want to know how to link the page numbers in separate documents so that I don't have to manually readjust the page numbers whenever I cut or add things to the manuscript in an earlier chapter.

I'll bet WordPerfect has a way to do it. I hate MS Word.

Neeli · Oct 5, 2007

PeeDee, doesn't that make things run pretty slow on your computer?

blacbird · Oct 5, 2007

Page numbering is not one of MS-Word's more attractive features, and never has been. You can set the first page of any document to any number you like, but it's posteriorly painful, and unnecessarily so, IMO. Rllgthunder has correctly, if maybe too briefly, explained it. Me, I just prefer to put the entire piece into a single document, and go from there. Less posteriorly painful.

caw

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 5, 2007

I hate the master document feature of Word. It doesn't master anything.

Having all your text in one doc should not slow your computer down unless its a really old, crappy computer (like mine). I have some files that are 750 pages long, over 1 meg and they open and run just fine.

Having all your docs in one file make for easier searches.

wayndom · Oct 5, 2007

I can't answer your question, but it reminds me of my experience writing a novel on a Commodore 128 in the late 80's. The computer only had enough RAM to hold about twenty pages at a time, so the word-processors all had a feature called, "linked documents."

You ended your 20 pages with a command that told the computer that when it printed this file, it should load the next file (named in the command) and continue printing as if they were all one file.

So if there's a way of doing that with a modern WP, I'd guess it would be called, "linked files," as it was back then.

Scrawler · Oct 5, 2007

Each of my chapters are in separate word doc files, rather than one big file. Adjusting the starting page numbers is something I do when it's time to prepare/print the final MS.

kristie911 · Oct 5, 2007

I tried keeping my chapters separate for awhile but it just doesn't work very well. I like to be able to search for something without having to open 15 different files, like names. I'm terrible at remembering a name I gave a minor character so I'm always having to go back and look so I know I got it right. The separate files are a pain in the butt.

And no, it shouldn't make your computer run slow unless you have a very, very old computer.

PeeDee · Oct 6, 2007

Neeli said:
PeeDee, doesn't that make things run pretty slow on your computer?

To have one document? No. Good heavens. I suppose one novel file open (120,000 words or so) might have slowed down Ye Olde Windows 3.1, back in the day, but I can't imagine any computer in the last twenty years having a problem...

sneakers145 · Oct 6, 2007

Count me in on the one document thing, too. As a newbie I used to separate each chapter into its own document. No more.

Julie Worth · Oct 6, 2007

Scrawler said:
Each of my chapters are in separate word doc files, rather than one big file. Adjusting the starting page numbers is something I do when it's time to prepare/print the final MS.

So what is big? My WIP is 500 pages and under 2 megs. This is about the size of a photo from my digital camera. In today's terms, it's tiny.

Prawn · Oct 6, 2007

A 90K novel is about 1 meg.

Devil Ledbetter · Oct 6, 2007

sneakers145 said:
Count me in on the one document thing, too. As a newbie I used to separate each chapter into its own document. No more.

Yep, me too. I let these folks talk me into going with one big document and I love it. It is so much easier to edit, especially the chapter transitions. It's easier to make sure I'm not repeating certain words or phrases.

Rolling Thunder · Oct 6, 2007

One document is so much easier to take care of, too. You can back it up with the date added to the filename to track revisions, search the entire document, use color to highlight where you started/stopped an edit session: it's the way to go.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 6, 2007

Prawn said:
A 90K novel is about 1 meg.

Maybe it depends on which version you're using. My 87k novel is half that. My 200k novel is 1 meg.

Linda Adams · Oct 6, 2007

I've found that a large document becomes unweldy for me to work with after a certain point and becomes a distraction, so I keep my chapters in separate files. I try not to worry too much about the numbering as I'm writing. When I'm done, I cut and paste it all together in one document, and that takes care of the numbering.

You might try posting the question on the MS Word forum. There might be a solution or an add in that keeps the numbers sequential from document to document.

Stay away from the master document feature though. It corrupts documents on a regular basis.

scarletpeaches · Oct 6, 2007

Once more, scarletpeaches to the rescue.

Open up your chapter two, three, whatever document.
Make sure your cursor is flashing on the page you want the numbering to start.
Click on VIEW > HEADER AND FOOTER.
On the little toolbar that pops up you should see three little page icons - click on the third. If you hover your mouse over it, it should say 'FORMAT PAGE NUMBER'.
Click on the box that says 'START AT' then enter the page number you want.

Julie Worth · Oct 6, 2007

I'll bet that anyone who's saving chapters individually does not appreciate the value of styles and page breaks, and is not using a header style for their chapter headings.

scarletpeaches · Oct 6, 2007

I used to save individually until I realised what a fanny-aboot it was changing page numbers. So now I have my WIP saved as one document and any changes I make take seconds to adjust or reverse if I so choose.

Linda Adams · Oct 6, 2007

Julie Worth said:
I'll bet that anyone who's saving chapters individually does not appreciate the value of styles and page breaks, and is not using a header style for their chapter headings.

Not me. I created a manuscript template and have a style for the manuscript format. It automatically formats the text in the proper font, double-spaces, and indents the first line of each paragraph. It saves me a lot of time because all I have to do is select the style and start typing. I've never cared much for the heading styles, though; I did technical documention for a while, and numbered chapter headings drove me nuts because I always had to pay a lot of attention to ensure the numbering worked right.

Julie Worth · Oct 6, 2007

Linda Adams said:
I've never cared much for the heading styles...

You only need one heading style. You can have it automatically start on a new page, one-third down, centered in all caps, and have it space down and start in normal style afterwards. Not only a convenience, but it keeps the chapters perfectly consistent.

Neeli · Oct 6, 2007

Julie Worth said:
I'll bet that anyone who's saving chapters individually does not appreciate the value of styles and page breaks, and is not using a header style for their chapter headings.

Not at all, Julie. I use page breaks when I put my chapters together. I simply use Courier in all my chapter headings anyway. And I regularly use the header/footer to put my name, title and page number on every page.

Neeli · Oct 6, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Once more, scarletpeaches to the rescue.

Open up your chapter two, three, whatever document.

Make sure your cursor is flashing on the page you want the numbering to start.

Click on VIEW > HEADER AND FOOTER.

On the little toolbar that pops up you should see three little page icons - click on the third. If you hover your mouse over it, it should say 'FORMAT PAGE NUMBER'.

Click on the box that says 'START AT' then enter the page number you want.

Sorry, Scarletpeaches, but as I have already said, twice, I know how to MANUALLY ADJUST the page numbers. I want an automatic do-hickey that you tell it which document to look at and begin the page numbering with the first number after that documents' last number--without my own intervention.

Page numbering problems

The Khatun

Where's my tea, please...?

The Khatun

The Khatun

Court Jester

Bored fanatic

Happy to be here

Where's my tea, please...?

What? I have a title?

Writing is finite,revising infinite

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Court Jester

Soldier, Storyteller

What? I have a title?

Soldier, Storyteller

What? I have a title?

The Khatun

The Khatun