Ask the Expert:
Page Numbering in Framemaker

by emily layng, Recorder

Question

In Framemaker, how do I insert a running page total in the footers of an entire book?
For example, page 2 of 250.

Answer

Although Framemaker allows you to do this within a chapter, it does not allow you to do this across a book. This is strange because, the Table of Contents that is generated is able to keep track of how many pages are in the book, but there is no easy way to insert this information into the footer.

After struggling with this for quite some time, we eventually contacted Adobe and this is their solution:

1. Open the book file.

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2. Open the last chapter in the book.
3. From the View Menu, select Master Pages.
4. Scroll to the left master page.

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5. Insert the Page Count variable any where in the footer.
6. Highlight the number, and open the Paragraph Designer.

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7. Create a new paragraph tag, and call it something you can easily remember, for example "running count" or some other name you won't ever use for anything else.
8. Ensure that the color for the new tag is white.

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9. Apply this paragraph tag to the variable, and it should disappear.
10. Open the first chapter of the book, and, in the left and right master pages, insert the current page variable, followed by the word "of" followed by a cross reference to the tag you created in the last chapter of the book.
11. Copy and paste this into the left and right master pages in every chapter of the book.
12. Save all chapters.
13. Update the book.
14. Open each chapter and you should see the page numbering X of however many pages are in the book.
    
    

About emily layng

emily is currently working at ATS, in Cambridge, and has recently been promoted to Team Leader of Systems 1. As part of a busy group, long days and short weekends are the norm. She has been a technical writer since 1996, and has created documentation for both hardware and software companies. Outside of ATS, she is involved with a local Astrology group that is putting together correspondence courses for learning Astrology.