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
    2014-05-28T08:25:09+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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  2. 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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  3. Anonymous
    2015-01-22T04:33:11+00:00

    JonathanHPS has the correct solution.

    1. Navigate to Slide Master
      1. Select the Master Slide
      2. Enable Slide Number in Master Layout
      3. Navigate to Insert, Header and Footer or Slide Number
        1. Enable Slide Number

    These steps should work as long your foreground content color is not the same as your background color.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-06-01T19:48:14+00:00

    Hi, I still have issues when printing on a black and white printer. I've set my page numbers to be green in the master (page numbers is checked when I try to insert), but on every other page they print black - like pure black on black and white printers, even though green should show up as a shade of gray. 

    i've also viewed in grayscale, selected the page number box, and changed from automatic to grayscale - still prints out pure black as opposed to a representative gray.

    how can i make page numbers show up as their representative color, even when printing on a black and white printer?

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