Including Page Numbers in EPUB with WordToEPUB

Page navigation is one of the most desired accessibility features in ebooks and it is supported by the EPUB format. Whilst the number of ‘screens’ in the same title will vary according to the display size, font size and margins, the page navigation will always take you to the same place. It means that a user can turn to a specific page quickly, and they will be on the same page as someone using the printed title.

To include the print page navigation feature into your EPUB, you can use any of the 6 options provided by WordToEPUB and prepare the Word document accordingly. These options are listed on the Pagination tab in Advanced Settings in WordToEPUB window.

Often you would like your EPUB file to have the same page numbering as its source print book. This helps readers make use of references to the print book, for example the teacher asks student to read page 55, students using the EPUB version will also be able to go to the same page as the print version readers. This can be accomplished in various ways while preparing the Word document before conversion with WordToEPUB.

The different options for page numbering in WordToEPUB are described below along with tips for preparing the Word document.

Option 1: Page numbers from Word document

This is the default option in WordToEPUB. When this option is selected, the EPUB file has the same number of pages as the Word document. For example, if the Word document is 100 pages long, then on choosing this ‘Page numbers from Word document’ will insert 100 print page breaks into the EPUB file, each at the same location as in the Word document.

If you are trying to match the page numbering of a print source then choosing this option will require you to adjust the Word document pagination. You will need to adjust text in every Microsoft Word document page so that it is same as its print equivalent. You may have to insert page breaks (Ctrl + Enter) or adjust margins, text size and spacing to achieve desired result. When the print book has different kind of page numbering i.e. roman numerals as page numbers at the front or no page numbers in the front part of the book then the other options listed below will be easier to use.

Option 2: Page numbers from Headers and Footers

You can insert page numbers in the Header or Footer of the Word document and choose numbering as per the print book. Microsoft Word allows you to use upper/lower roman numerals like I, ii, iii or Arabic numbering 1,2,3. You can also start the page numbering where you desire, it is possible to have pages without any number in the header or footer. You may need to divide your document into sections and use the header/footer formatting features to achieve desired results.

When you insert the page numbers in header or footer choose this option in WordToEPUB > Advanced > Pagination before starting the conversion and then the resulting EPUB file will have page numbers just as you wanted.

Option 3: Text styled as Heading 6

Page numbers can be manually included by marking them using the built-in style ‘Heading level 6’. You can just type the page number inside the document and apply Heading 6 style on it. When you use this option, you don’t have to make any adjustments to match the Word document pagination with that of the print book.

WordToEPUB will include these numbers having Heading 6 style as print page breaks in the EPUB. These will not be included in the TOC since despite giving a heading style the intention here is not to mark them as headers.

Option 4: Text styled as ‘Page Number DAISY’

Save as DAISY Microsoft Word add-in which was used widely adds a style named ‘Page Number DAISY’ to the Words style list. Like Save as DAISY, numbers written in the document having the ‘Page Number DAISY’ style are treated as page numbers and inserted into the EPUB by WordToEPUB.

Note that the ‘Page Number DAISY’ style is not available in Microsoft Word by default. You will need to install Save as DAISY and use the ‘Import Styles’ to get this style and use in a new document. This feature has been provided so that documents prepared earlier for Save as DAISY processing can now also be used by WordToEPUB.

Option 5: Page numbers included as PRINT PAGE #

You can also place the page number at the start of a new line preceded with the words ‘PRINT PAGE’. For example PRINT PAGE 1 or PRINT PAGE ii.

Note that the value used for the page label is inserted by WordToEPUB. So when a special styles are use, ‘Page xii’ , ‘123’  and ‘PRINT PAGE seven’ would become ‘xii’ and ‘123’ and ‘seven’ respectively.

Option 6: No page numbers

You can choose this option when page number navigation is not required in the EPUB. This option may be useful when you are converting very small documents like brochures or materials that don’t have any print equivalent.

When ‘No page numbers’ is chosen, WordToEPUB will ignore page numbers in the Word document whether they are in the Header or Footer or have been given specific styles.

See also

• WordToEPUB Information and Download
• Getting started with WordToEPUB
• Creating accessible Word documents
• Advanced Guide to WordToEPUB