How to do the equivalent of a section break in Microsoft Word (to be able to start numbering in footer area later in document)?

[joebloedan]

Hi,

Very frustrating, as I cannot start a page numbering in the footer section starting on the 3rd physical page of my document with “1” as the starting number.

I’ve tried like a dozen methods I found in this forum and online and none of them work.

In Microsoft Word, I use to be able to do a “Section break” (not a “Page break”) so that I could from that point on insert page numbers (by unchecking the “same as previous” checkbox in order to NOT get the page numbers on the first two pages of my document).

But in LibreOffice Writer, there doesn’t seem to be this particular kind of Section break option in order to have a CLEAN CUT/BREAK from the first two pages (where I DON’T want page numbers to occur).

If anyone can explain in very simple, infallible, steps on how to get my document not to have page numbers in the first two pages, but only on the third page with “1” as the page number, I would be very grateful.

Note - if your method is to insert them (where it puts the page numbers on all pages initially) and then manually remove them from the first two pages - DON’T included it here. Because I tried 3-4 variations of this method and none of them work.

Thanks!

[ajlittoz]

First a vocabulary point.

Word section has a different meaning in M$ Word and LO Writer. In Word, a “section break” isolates parts of the document with different layout properties (among which header and footer). In Writer, a section is a fraction of a page with mainly a different number of columns (all other layout properties are unchanged, including header, footer and page numbering).

In Writer, main layout properties are stored in a page style. A page style is active between user-controlled boundaries implemented as special page breaks.

Your requirement is: 2 front pages without numbering (and likely without header nor footer), followed by your main topic pages.

Consequently, you need two page styles.

Keep built-in Default Page Style for your main topic and create a user style.

1. display the style side pane if not already visible with Styles → Manage Styles
2. click on the fourth icon from left in the side pane toolbar to list the page styles
3. right-click in free area of the list and New
4. give a name to the style, e.g. Front and configure its size, margins, …
5. OK

Put the cursor where you want to separate your front matter from your discourse (usually the start of its first paragraph or heading) and Insert → More Breaks → Manual Break. Select Page break and Default Page Style for the style to be activated after the break. Tick Change page number and set the starting page number (1). OK

Put the cursor in your first page. Double-click on your user page style name (Front) to apply it to the first run of pages, from beginning to the special page break.

Instructions given for LO 26.2.3.2 – when asking here, always mention OS name and exact LO version because instructions slightly differ between platforms and releases. Also, most suggestions are stable only when document is saved native, i.e. .odt.

[joebloedan]

Thank you for your detailed reply. I will give it a look and try. Much appreciated.