WD: Numbering Columns to Count Backwards

ID: Q118638

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, version 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft Windows operating system, version 3.1

SUMMARY

In Word for Windows, you can number the columns in reverse order on a multiple-column page by inserting field codes in the document's header or footer. Using this method, you can simulate the pagination of folded pages (as for a brochure, booklet, leaflet, or program).

MORE INFORMATION

You can achieve the numbering scheme diagrammed below by inserting the following line at the left edge of your document's header or footer. (To create the brackets { }, press CTRL+F9.)

   {=x-(y*(({={page}-1}*y)+0))}

Place the following line at the right edge of the header or footer:

   {=x-(y*(({={page}-1}*y)+1))}

With a starting page number of 25, the results are as follows:

           page 1                    page 2
    -------------------       -------------------
   | pg 25   .   pg 23 |     | pg 24   .   pg 22 |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
   |         .         |     |         .         |
    -------------------       -------------------

You can use the following generic formula to simulate page numbering for any number of columns:

   {=x-(y*(({={page}-1}*y)+z))}

In this formula, x equals the number from which you want to start counting backwards, "y" is the number of columns per page, and "z" is the current column number minus 1. In the first column, z would be 0; in the second column, z would be 1; and so on. Insert the formula in the header or footer, positioning each formula at the desired location above or below the appropriate column.

For two-column page numbering where the numbering starts from 25, use the following formula:

   {=25-(2*(({={page}-1}*2)+0))}  25, 23, 21,...
   {=25-(2*(({={page}-1}*2)+1))}  24, 22, 20,...

For three-column page numbering where the numbering stars from 25, use the following formula:

   {=25-(3*(({={page}-1}*3)+0))}  25, 22, 19,...
   {=25-(3*(({={page}-1}*3)+1))}  24, 21, 18,...
   {=25-(3*(({={page}-1}*3)+2))}  23, 20, 17,...

For four-column page numbering, use the following formula:

   {=25-(4*(({={page}-1}*4)+0))}  25, 21, 17,...
   {=25-(4*(({={page}-1}*4)+1))}  24, 20, 16,...
   {=25-(4*(({={page}-1}*4)+2))}  21, 17, 13,...
   {=25-(4*(({={page}-1}*4)+3))}  19, 15, 11,...

NOTE: If there is not an exact number of pages (you are printing five columns' worth of text, with three columns per page, so one column is blank), you may see negative numbers in the header. There is no simple workaround for this. Making the last page a separate section and removing the formula from the header in the blank column is one solution.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 243-247

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 421-431

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, pages 246-247

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: kbfield kbtable Additional query words: winword2 1.0 1.10 1.10a 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD winword word97 7.0 word95 word7 word6 2.0b 2.0c 6.0 6.0a table same multiple brochure page number winword foldover fold over

Keywords          : kbfield kbtable 
Version           : 1.x 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998