Adding Automatic Page Numbers to imported PDF File

[SgtCrawler1116]

So, I just got into Affinity Publisher 2.

Before that, I was working on an 80 page book using Canvas (don't judge pls), and everything is done except for the page numbers, which I supposed I could add in Publisher 2 just like you can in InDesign. Problem is that all the tutorials I see say you either have to set a master page from the start, or number every page manually.

I'm not sure I can use a master page here because like I said, the entire book is done, all I did was import it's PDF to Publisher 2. Is there any other option other than adding the page number to each page, manually?

[Murfee]

Hi @SgtCrawler1116, welcome to the forums

You can add master pages at any time, the post below has a handy video that should help

 

 

 

[Old Bruce]

Make your Master Page and add only the Page Numbers to it. Apply it to every page on which you need page numbers.

For this to work your PDF should have a transparent background, it most likely does.

[SgtCrawler1116]

1 hour ago, Murfee said:

Hi @SgtCrawler1116, welcome to the forums

You can add master pages at any time, the post below has a handy video that should help

 

 

 

Ok, so that worked, but the master is being applied to the last layers and is being hidden by elements above it.

[MikeTO]

21 minutes ago, SgtCrawler1116 said:

Ok, so that worked, but the master is being applied to the last layers and is being hidden by elements above it.

You can move master page layers above document page layers but you must do it to every page separately. To avoid doing this, perhaps try to position the page number so that it's not obscured by the document page layers. This may not be possible depending on the page design.

I used to use another trick to do this in another application but Publisher doesn't have this feature either - duplicate objects onto successive pages. With it you could add the page number where you want it on page 1 and duplicate it as the top layer on as many pages as you want. This is on my list of scripts to write as soon as scripting is enabled.

[walt.farrell]

1 hour ago, MikeTO said:

You can move master page layers above document page layers but you must do it to every page separately.

You can do it just once and handle all the existing pages with that Master, but it's a bit tricky.

1. On one page with that Master applied, right-click the Master page layer in the Layers panel and choose Edit Linked.
2. In the Layers panel, select the Text Frame that contains the page number.
3. With the Move Tool selected, use the menu Layer > Arrange > Move to Front.

Check the other pages. They should all have been updated.

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

You can do it just once and handle all the existing pages with that Master, but it's a bit tricky.

That does not seem very tricky to me ... you just need to know about the Edit Linked option.

[walt.farrell]

2 hours ago, R C-R said:

you just need to know about the Edit Linked option.

And you have to know that you have to use the menu. There are at least two other methods you could use to try to move the layer to the top, but they won't work on anything but the current page.

[R C-R]

10 minutes ago, walt.farrell said:

And you have to know that you have to use the menu.

If you mean the menu that opens with a right-click on the Master layer, then yes you need to know that quite a few functions in the UI are available via a right-click. But I do not consider that any more tricky than learning about other parts of the UI or how to access features & functions from them.

[walt.farrell]

1 minute ago, R C-R said:

If you mean the menu that opens with a right-click on the Master layer, then yes you need to know that quite a few functions in the UI are available via a right-click. But I do not consider that any more tricky than learning about other parts of the UI or how to access features & functions from them.

No. Layer > Arrange > Move to Front. That is the tricky part because the various alternative methods will not work.

[SgtCrawler1116]

On 8/24/2024 at 3:26 PM, walt.farrell said:

You can do it just once and handle all the existing pages with that Master, but it's a bit tricky.

1. On one page with that Master applied, right-click the Master page layer in the Layers panel and choose Edit Linked.
2. In the Layers panel, select the Text Frame that contains the page number.
3. With the Move Tool selected, use the menu Layer > Arrange > Move to Front.

Check the other pages. They should all have been updated.

Yep, this worked. Thank you so much!

[walt.farrell]

You're welcome, @SgtCrawler1116.