InDesign

Add automatic page numbers for story jumps

You can easily maintain the jump lines of stories that continue to other pages, such as a line that says “Continued on page 42.” Use a jump line page number to automatically update the number of the page containing a story’s next or previous threaded text frame when you move or reflow the story’s threaded text frames.

Usually the jump line page number should be in a separate text frame from the story it tracks. That way, the jump line page number remains in position even if the story’s text reflows.

If you insert an Auto Page Number character in the Find/Change dialog box, jump line page numbers can also be found.
  1. With the Type tool, drag to create a new text frame where you want the jump line to appear.
  2. With the Selection tool , position the new text frame so that it overlaps the frame containing the story you want to track.
    Make sure text frame touches or overlaps story you want it to track.

  3. Select the Type tool and click an insertion point in the new text frame. Then type the text that you want to appear before the page number, such as “Continued on” or “Continued from”.
  4. Then choose Type > Insert Special Character and one of the following options:
    Next Page Number
    Inserts the number of the page containing the story’s next frame. Use this character when creating a “continued on” jump line.

    Previous Page Number
    Inserts the number of the page containing the story’s previous frame. Use this character when creating a “continued from” jump line.

    The page number automatically updates to reflect the current location of the next or previous frame of the story.

  5. Optional To prevent the story from being moved without its jump line, Shift-select the frames with the Selection tool, then choose Object > Group.
  6. If necessary, repeat this procedure to add more jump lines.
Note: If an unwanted character appears at the beginning of the page number (so that, for example, a jump line reads “Cont’d on page A16” instead of “Cont’d on page 16”), you probably included a section prefix in the Numbering & Section Options dialog box. Turn off or edit the prefix.