Page numbers defined but not showing

[lesshort]

LibreOffice 7.6.4.1 on Windows 11

I have a book with different page styles (First Page, Front Matter, Default Page Style, etc). I configured Front Matter and Default Page Styles to have page numbers (roman numerals for the first, decimals for the second), but they are not displaying. It’s not displaying anything so it’s not the Ctrl-F9 issue.

I’ve tried turning off page numbers, and then redoing, but without success. Since it’s affecting all page styles, I assume it’s some sort of global toggle. It is working fine in my other book, so I’m confused as to what would be different.

Thanks, Les

[robleyd]

Are the page number fields in a header or footer, and if so did you enable headers/footers?

[lesshort]

Yes and yes. Actually I’ve tried both ways and neither would show up. But, after doing some updates, changing some pages to a different style and ensuring my breaks were consistent, they suddenly showed up. I had to fiddle around a bit to get the starting numbers right, but it worked!

I have to say, a better page number wizard would be good - one place where you can define everything down to the nitty gritty. That said, experiment and experience is helping. I bought the manual and that has saved my butt a few times

[ajlittoz]

I don’t see what can be simpler than Insert>Field>Page Number. It is a single operation. No need for a wizard: you insert the page number where you want it.
Perhaps, you tried to do something uselessly complicated. Some muscle memory from Word?

[lesshort]

No need to be rude. There are many options to page numbers, like position, type of number, association with page style, etc. And when your suggestion doesn’t actually work, how have you helped the thread?

You only have to search the Help or read the manual to see how many options there are. Please don’t post if you have nothing useful to add.

[ajlittoz]

I am not rude. I’m trying to understand what you’re looking for.

A page number is only generated textual data. Therefore, it is part of a paragraph. Position then depends on where you put the paragraph and the paragraph location is set like any other text and depends on the sequence of paragraphs. If the page number goes into “special” areas like header or footer, these areas have restricted extension which simplifies the positioning problem.

Formatting the page number is a separate issue. By default, the number displays according to the “type” you’ve chosen in the page style (by default traditional Western figures), but you can change this by requesting a specific format when inserting the field.

Perhaps you think of some shortcut which would insert a “floating object” containing the page number and you move this object to its desired position with the mouse. Sorry, though this is manually possible, this is not the Writer way for it because it detaches the page number from text and makes interaction between the object and text very difficult. Among other things, you’ll have a hard time to align the baselines of page number and header/footer, not speaking of the location of the anchor of the “object” (possibly causing the page number to appear on a single page only).