How to begin page numbering on the third page using Google Docs API?

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1

I’m trying to figure out how to make page numbers start on the third page of my document using the Google Docs API. Right now, the numbers begin on the second page where my Table of Contents is. I want them to start on the actual content page instead.

I tried a workaround by making a template with three blank pages at the start. I put a footer on the third page and set the page number to 1. But it didn’t work like I hoped.

Does anyone know the right way to do this with the API? I’m not sure if there’s a specific method or if I need to use a different approach. Any help would be great!

2

I encountered a similar challenge in a project I worked on recently. Although the API doesn’t offer direct control over page numbering, I discovered a workaround that might help. Instead of using the standard page numbering, I created a custom footer on the third page and implemented a script that calculates the page number by subtracting two from the actual count. The API then updates this custom footer with the computed number. It isn’t a perfect solution and may be slower for large documents, but it does achieve the desired result.

3

Having worked extensively with the Google Docs API, I can confirm that controlling page numbering is indeed challenging. A pragmatic approach I’ve found effective is to use a combination of section breaks and custom footers. First, insert section breaks before your content begins. Then, create a custom footer in the content section. Within this footer, you can use a script to dynamically calculate and display the correct page number. This method, while not ideal, offers a reliable workaround to the API’s limitations in direct page number manipulation. It’s worth noting that this solution may require additional processing time for larger documents, so consider the trade-offs based on your specific use case.

4

hey there! i’ve dealt with this before. unfortunately, the google docs api doesn’t have a direct way to control page numbering like that. :frowning: one workaround is to use a section break (next page) before your content starts. then you can set different headers/footers for each section. hope that helps!