page numbers not showing on slides

Anonymous
2010-02-04T18:16:13+00:00

the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

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Anonymous
2010-02-04T22:19:23+00:00

the page numbers i try to place using footer and slide numbers boxes will not show.  background appears to be blocking it.

Hi

Did you use Insert -> Header & Footer? Check to see if the page number placeholder is truned on on the Master - View -> Slide Master -> Slide Master tab -> Master Layout -> check 'Slide Number' is ticked. If it is and you still can't see it it may be behind another element on the slide master - select the 'mother' master (the big one at the top) then Home -> Select drop down -> Selection Pane -> select 'Slide Number Placeholder' -> click the re-order up button (at the bottom of the taskpane) until the slide number placeholder is at the top.

If none of that works, let us know exactly what you have tried and exactly what is happening. Also, if the file was created in a previous version or has been edited in a previous version.

Lucy


Lucy Thomson

PowerPoint MVP

an easier tomorrow

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42 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-05-28T08:29:15+00:00

    You cannot just type in <#>.

    Place the cursor where you want it to be on the master and INSERT > Slide Number

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-28T08:25:09+00:00

    Hi Bay View

    Sounds like the slide master linked to your slides does not have the page number placeholder in the slidemaster footer. Office2010 handles footers in two parts: the slidemaster sets a placeholder fpr pagenumber, and the actual presentation slide activates it.

    You can check if the relevant slidemaster has footer placeholders - there are three in the set - dotted outline boxes with the date, "Footer" and <#> for the page number. If none are showing, click Footers in the slidemaster menu group. If some are present but not the page number, click Insert, Header&Footer, tick Page Number (all this is still in the slide master layout, not your own slides).

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-27T22:38:25+00:00

    Nothing works.

    1. When I try to insert header/footer, as others have reported, I will click "page number" and then go out. No page numbers. When I go back in "page number" box has been unclicked. Doesn't matter if I click "don't show on first slide"or not.
    2. Tried the slide master. There, "insert page number' was already checked yet no page numbers. I added the <#> manually and that is what showed--literally <#>. WTF is going on? In past versions of PPt it was no big deal to add page numbers.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-25T06:12:36+00:00

    Thank you so much TomSwanson! This was the only solution that worked for me.

    Nothing else would make the page numbers display.

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