How to Insert Page Number Totals in the Header or Footer for each Section of a Word Document

How  to Insert Page Number Totals in the Header or Footer for each Section of a Word Document
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How to Use the SectionPages Field Code

In the following example, we will create a footer that displays the page number and total number of pages for each section of a Word document.

1. Go to the first page of Section 1 and click into your header or footer and place your cursor where you want the page numbers to be displayed (click the center button on the Formatting toolbar to center your cursor). Then click the Insert Page Number button on the Header and Footer toolbar to insert the page number. Enter a space, then type the word “of” and another space.

2. Click Insert on the menu bar and choose Field. Scroll down in the list of Field Names and select SectionPages. In the Format section choose a number format. Click OK.

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3. You should now see the number of pages displayed in the footer.

Footer%20Section%201%20-%20total%20number%20of%20pages%20in%20section

Start Page Number at 1 at the Beginning of Each Section

If you want each section to start at page 1, you’ll need to turn Same as Previous OFF, otherwise the numbering will continue from the previous section.

1. Go to the first page of your next section and click into the header or footer. You will see the words “Same as Previous” displayed on the Header and Footer border (dotted line). To turn this option OFF, click the Link to Previous button on the Header and Footer toolbar.

Footer%20Section%202%20-%20Same%20as%20Previous%20is%20On

You should no longer see the words “Same as Previous” on the border.

Footer%20Section%202%20-%20Same%20as%20Previous%20Turned%20Off

2. Now that “Same as Previous” has been turned off, you can change the number format for this section. Select the page number and click on the Format Page Number button on the Header and Footer toolbar. The Page Number Format dialog box opens. Click on the radial button next to Start at and make sure there is a 1 in the box. To change the type of numbering, select one from the Number Format drop-down list. Click OK.

Footer%20Section%202%20-%20Change%20Page%20Number%20Format

If you have more sections in your document, you will need to repeat these last two steps in each of these sections.

This post is part of the series: Word 2003 Headers and Footers

Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about creating headers and footers in MS Word.

  1. How to Create Headers and Footers in Microsoft Word 2003
  2. Section Breaks and Different Headers and Footers
  3. Inserting the Total Number of Pages for Each Section of a Word Document