Apple Word problem

[pnwmom]

Last edited Fri Jan 3, 2020, 09:07 PM - Edit history (1)

FINAL UPDATE:

THANKS AGAIN to all who tried to help. I figured out the problem -- I needed to insert a "continuous page break" not just a page break. Geez.


For the record, this was my question that generous DUers helped me with:

I have an old Mac, with Word 2011, installed 14.7.3.

Yes, I know, I'm supposed to replace it.

In the meantime, all I want to do is number a 12 page document, so that the first two pages have no numbers, and the next 10 pages are numbered 1-10.

I've googled for the answer, and read posts recommending section breaks, and I inserted one, but can't manage the next step.

I finally gave up and asked my in-home tech person (Phd engineer) for help, and that person is a PC user who thinks all Macs suck.

Does anyone out there know how to do this? It used to be SIMPLE. Even I could do it. But it isn't simple anymore.

At least, I don't think it is.



ON UPDATE: I tried this and it didn't work.

https://blog.matthewrathbone.com/2011/12/16/how-to-have-page-numbers-start-on-page-3-using-ms-word-2011-for-mac.html

[TruckFump]

1. I detest MSW and use only WordPerfect because of problems like this with MSW

Somewhere you have a prompt code that is causing this and these are hidden because MSW does not have a "reveal codes" like WP. However, I think, but am not sure, there is a prompt one can use in MSW and it is Shift F8 that allows one to see the prompts inside the document.

When things like you describe are happening, it is usually because there is some orphan prompt that is causing the problem. The only way I know to get rid of it is to find it "inside" the document that is being disrupted by it and remove it.

MSW has many auto prompts that cause this. Good luck. Hope this helps.

[pnwmom]

3. I'll ask my engineer to help me with your suggestion. Thanks!

[TruckFump]

7. You're welcome.

All of the problems I have had with MSW have been from orphan prompts hidden in the documents. One of the worst is "widow orphan" code because for legal documents there are 28 lines on the legal pleading paper in Calif and this code can move your typing down to the next page and not allow you to use the slashes // for the 28th line as required in legal documents when that line needs to be blank because the paragraph ended on line 27. Drives me nuts in documents others using MSW send me to use.

Good luck.

[LaurenOlimina]

2. In Word, this is tied to page breaks.

I'm not sure about your version of Word, but just go to the end of the page BEFORE you want numbering to start and create a "Page Break." This essentially treats your document as two co-joined docs. Then insert page numbers in the section after the break. It will treat the first page of this section as page one. I'm pasting a Mac tutorial below. May not be your exact version, but you can figure it out from here.

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/add-different-page-numbers-or-number-formats-to-different-sections-in-word-for-mac-35e1d683-40e7-4b6a-b0a3-79893d6485de

[pnwmom]

4. Is your suggestion the same thing as this?

https://blog.matthewrathbone.com/2011/12/16/how-to-have-page-numbers-start-on-page-3-using-ms-word-2011-for-mac.html

My engineer and I both tried following the instructions with a section break but couldn't get it to work.

I'll try again!

[LaurenOlimina]

5. I don't have Word installed anymore or I'd fix it for you.

That's the same thing. It should work.

I switched to Apple Pages and Google Docs because of situations just like this.

[pnwmom]

12. Thank you, LaurenOlimina.

The solution turned out to be embarrassingly easy. I needed to insert "continuous section breaks" instead of mere "section breaks."

Thanks for trying to help.

[Lulu KC]

6. Totally low-tech solution

I'd insert footer, and change each page with the right page number. Sometimes I just can't get Word for Mac to understand me, and I don't have an old version. It acts like it can read my mind, but it can't.

[TruckFump]

8. It's the hidden damn auto prompts and coding.

MSW was designed to be helpful and some times it ends up to be frustrating as hell because it TELLS you what to do and you cannot make it stop!

[pnwmom]

9. I tried that, too! And it wants to make every page have the same number. n/t

[TruckFump]

10. FOUND THIS: REVEAL CODES IN MSW

http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/RevealCodes.htm

Ck it out and hope it helps. It is Shift F1.

Good luck!!!!

[pnwmom]

11. Thank you!

By coincidence, I was just messing around and accidentally fixed it by picking "continuous section breaks" instead of just "section breaks."

But I am going to save your link for the future. Thanks again,

[TruckFump]

13. You are very welcome and glad you found the problem.

Nothing is more frustrating that working with a document that has a will of its own!