Page number on left, page number on righ

[mcdon47]

I’m writing a book and want to start ‘page 1’ on page 13 on the right.
I have researched and followed many steps but got no where.

What I did:
Insert>Header and Footer> (I can see page ‘1’ on the left and page ‘2’ on the left hand side of the second page but I want it on the right hand side).

In Styles and Formatting: selected ‘page styles’ and selected First page (page layout set to right only) but no where here to set page 13 as the first page and the hard return symbol is still on the left hand side not right hand side where I want it to be.

What am I doing wrong?

[gabix]

Read this tutorial and this tutorial (especially the latter).

[ajlittoz]

The appearance of page, among others page-specific header and footer, depends on page styles. Your question clearly defines at least 2 parts in your book: physical pages 1-12 probably unnumbered for cover, foreword and eventually TOC, physical pages 13+ numbered from 1 with alternating position of page number.

This calls for at least three page styles:

• your first part needs at least one page style (I write “at least” because this undescribed part may have a more complex structure like a cover followed by a dedication followed by a TOC)

  You can use Default Style. First Page is not a correct choice because it switches automatically to Default Style at end of the page. It is however an adequate choice for a cover.

• your “content” part needs two page styles: Right Page and Left Page

  Since this part follows the previous one, you must cause a break in the flow to be able to change the page style. The simple way for a freshman is to insert a manual page break before the first paragraph of the “content” with Insert>Break>Other Break. In the dialog which pops up, choose page break, the specific target page style Right Page and the page number 1.

  In case your book is chaptered, this break is better located in the paragraph style, Text Flow tab, for the paragraph marking the start of a new chapter, usually Heading 1 so that you don’t need to insert it manually.

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[gabix]

Do not give bad advice. No manual page breaks are needed for the task as described, The answer is in on of the tutorials referenced by me (spoiler: modify the very first paragraph of the document).

[mikekaganski]

Possibly having different left/right headers/footers with one page style for the “content” part is adequate for the task.

In case your book is chaptered, this break is better located in the paragraph style, Text Flow tab, for the paragraph marking the start of a new chapter,

… but only in case when each chapter starts a new page.

[ajlittoz]

@gabix: I’m always eager to learn. Could you point me to my error? Also, explain what you mean about modifying the very first paragraph of the document (it has nothing to do with the requested page style change at page 13).

[gabix]

The asker does not know how to merely start page numbering in his file with the number 13. He tries the styles dialog that is quite logical, but not right for the given purpose. Your error is telling him to use Insert>Break>Other Break.

In such a case, go to the very first paragraph of the page that needs to become page 13 (thus, to the very first paragraph of the document if the entire book numbering must start with 13), call up the properties dialog, go to the Text flow tab, the Breaks section. Tick Insert, tick With page style, tick Page number, fill/select respective values (such as Right page and 13).

Note that it must be done in the paragraph properties rather than in the paragraph style properties. Otherwise every time you apply the respective paragraph style, it will reset the numbering to start from 13.