How to Add Page Numbers to Document in InDesign?

It is beneficial to add page numbers in long documents. You need page number marker to display the page numbers in a document. When you add page number marker, page numbers automatically update when you add, update, or delete document pages. Generally, we insert page number marker in parent page and apply that parent to document pages to generate page numbers. Page number marker displays page numbers in document pages.

How to Insert Page Number Marker in Parent Page?

Follow these steps to add page number marker in parent page:

1. Window > Pages > Double click parent page
2. Click Type Tool in Tool Panel to insert text frame large enough to hold extra text along with page number
3. Position the text frame at the place you want the page number to appear
4. Place cursor inside the text frame
5. Select Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number
6. Apply parent page to document pages to generate page numbers.

If you have enabled facing pages, you need to insert the page number marker on both left and right parent pages. You can simply copy the text frame you have just created to the next parent page. To copy text frame, drag text frame to next parent pressing window’s Alt Key.

After the insertion of page number in a document, you may need to apply custom style to page numbering. You may read more about the formatting and page numbering options.

How to Add Automatic Page Number in Story Jump Line?

Story jump lines are important in newspaper and magazine design. You may have seen text ‘Continue on page 12’ or similar at the bottom of the story, which is what the jump storyline is. In this example, page 12 is story jump page, wherein you can find the remaining text of the story.

The necessary condition for story jump line to work is that text frames should be threaded text frames. You may read more about threaded text in InDesign.

Generally, jump line text is placed into a separate text frame beneath the text frame that tracks jump story. Doing so does not intact jump line text or remain in position even when story text frame reflows. Moreover, you need to group the jump line text frame with story text frame to move them all together. Note also the jump line text frame should touch or overlap story text frame at the bottom.

Steps to Create Story Jump Line

1. Ensure that you have threaded text frame filled with sufficient text or placeholder text.
2. Create another text frame with the help of Type tool to place story jump line, and ensure it overlaps with story text frame at bottom.
3. Insert some text that appears before page number such as ‘Continue on’ or ‘Continued from’.
4. Go to Type > Insert Special Character > Marker > Next Page Number or Previous Page Number as per requirement. Next Page Number inserts the page number of next story frame, while Previous Page Number inserts the page number of previous story frame.

Now the page number automatically updates based on the pages that the text frames reside on when you move or reflow them. After all, you should not forget to group the story text frame and jump line text frames to move them together. For this, you can select both the text frames and group them by going to Object > Group (Ctrl + G).