How to start page numbering at a specific number

[bbtops]

Hi,

I’m writing a book that’s too big to put into a single file.

So I’m creating it as 5 separate files. After I get done creating each one in LO Writer, I will export each file to a PDF. Then I’ll concatenate them into the single PDF book.

How do I start the page numbering in the 2nd and subsequent files at a specific page number (instead of page number 1) ?

I’ve read several complicated explanations and am unable to figure this out.

I’m using “7.3.7.2/Libreoffice Community Writer” on Linux Mint 21.2. I’m saving all files as DOCX files (which apparently won’t save new Page Styles across sessions, so if required I will change them to ODT files).

Thank you for your help.

Since first posting, I have tried the advice in this thread – Page numbering problem on my book manuscript.

I changed my file to ODT format.

I tried INSERT → MORE BREAKS → MANUAL BREAK, and that allows me to begin page number at any specific page number. However, it also inserts a blank page at the top of my file (and if you delete that, then the page number starts at 1 again).

Thank you.

[bbtops]

Here’s my solution. It’s a work-around rather than a solution, but it works.

(1) I changed all my DOCX files to ODT files. It appears that page numbering does not always work reliably with DOCX files. Whereas it works of course with ODT files.

(2) For the 2nd and subsequent files – the ones that must start with specific page numbers other than 1 – I went to the first page in the file and entered this → INSERT → MORE BREAKS → MANUAL BREAK

This dialog allows you to start with a page number other than 1. For example, you could enter that numbering will start at page 102.

(3) The result – you now have a blank page at the top of your file numbered 1.

But all subsequent pages are correctly numbered, starting at number 102.

You’d like to delete that first blank page, but if you do, all the page numbering reverts to starting at page 1.

(4) So do not delete the first page. Instead, export the file to PDF.

(5) Open the PDF file and print it to another PDF file, but exclude the first page.

You’re done. You’ve created a doc that starts with a page number other than 1.

[robleyd]

Perhaps you might look at Working with Master Documents and Subdocuments and Chapter 16, Master Documents

[bbtops]

@robleyd – thank you for the good advice! I see that there is a ton a value in Master Documents that I need to learn about after I complete this project.

UPDATE TO MY WORKAROUND – In case anyone reads my “solution” … If you PRINT a PDF file to eliminate the first page, all URL links are converted to plain text in the output PDF file. Instead, use the QPDF line command to eliminate the initial blank page while retaining all URL links.