Formatting Issues

How to Use Different Page Number Formats in Word Sections

WPS Content Manager Oct 1, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to apply Roman numerals for the front matter and Arabic numerals for the main content, positioned in the top-right corner of the page.

How to Use Different Page Number Formats in Word Sections

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document with distinct front matter and main body sections.
Observed behavior: The document requires multiple page numbering styles across separate sections without continuing the formatting or count from the previous section.

Before you start

Ensure you are using a desktop version of Word, as web versions have limited support for section breaks and advanced header or footer settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Section Breaks and Unlink Headers to Format Page Numbers

By splitting the document into sections and unlinking their headers or footers, you can independently format the page numbers for the front matter and main content.

To apply different page number formats in a single document, you must isolate the different parts of the document using section breaks. Once isolated, unlinking the headers ensures changes in one section do not affect the others.

Insert a Section Break

Place your cursor at the end of the front matter. Go to the 'Layout' tab, click 'Breaks', and select 'Next Page' under Section Breaks.

Unlink the Sections

Double-click the header area in the new main content section. In the Header & Footer tab, click 'Link to Previous' to turn it off and disconnect it from the front matter.

Format Front Matter Page Numbers

Navigate back to the front matter section. Go to 'Insert' > 'Page Number' > 'Format Page Numbers'. Select Roman numerals from the Number format dropdown and set it to start at 'i'.

Format Main Content Page Numbers

Move to the main section. Go to 'Insert' > 'Page Number' > 'Format Page Numbers'. Choose Arabic numerals and set it to start at '1'.

Insert Page Numbers

If the page numbers are not already visible, go to 'Insert' > 'Page Number', select 'Top of Page', and choose Plain Number 3 to align the numbers to the top-right corner.

Use Section Breaks and Unlink Headers to Format Page Numbers

Successfully Applied: Your document should now display Roman numerals in the front matter and restart with Arabic numerals in the top-right corner of the main content.

WPS Writer Solution

Easily Manage Page Numbers with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides intuitive tools for handling complex document formatting, enabling you to seamlessly insert section breaks and customize page numbering styles.

1. Insert Section Break: Open your document in WPS Writer. Go to the 'Page Layout' tab, click 'Breaks', and select 'Next Page Section Break'.
2. Unlink Header and Footer: Double-click the header of the second section and click 'Link to Previous' to disable it.
3. Format Page Numbers: Go to the 'Insert' tab, select 'Page Number', and customize the format (Roman or Arabic) for each section independently.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive header and footer managementEasy customization of page number stylesFree and lightweight alternative for document editing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Link to Previous' option grayed out?

This option is only available if your document has more than one section. You must insert a Section Break first before you can unlink the header or footer.

How can I remove the page number from the cover page?

Double-click the header or footer of the first page. Look for the Header & Footer tab and check the box for 'Different First Page'. You can then safely delete the page number on the cover without affecting the rest of the document.

Can I set up different page number formats in Word for the Web?

No, Word for the Web has limited functionality. To insert section breaks and format different page number styles, you need to use the desktop version of Word or WPS Office.

Why do my Arabic numerals continue from the Roman numeral count?

You need to restart the numbering for the new section. Go to 'Insert' > 'Page Number' > 'Format Page Numbers', and under Page numbering, select 'Start at' and enter '1'.

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