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. Steve Rindsberg 99,176 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-05-13T16:52:08+00:00

    Headers/Footers/Page Numbers that originated in pre-2007 versions of PPT were handled very differently, and when the file's opened in newer versions of PPT, they lose their connection to the slide master and other stuff goes wrong.

    Give this a try:

    Use Insert Headers/Footers and turn the slide numbers OFF.

    Then cruise through your slides and make sure there are no slide numbers; any that you find are "orphans" ... not connected to the master, so you'll want to delete them.

    Then go back to Insert Headers/Footers and re-apply slide numbers.

    Better?

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-05-12T16:52:03+00:00

    Hi, Lucy,

    Thank you for the great tips! Before I searched for a resolution I tried everything you suggested, and the numbers still did not display. I'm thinking perhaps it's because the file was translated/edited in a previous version by another user, though I don't know what version they used. Is there anything else I can try to get the numbers to display? Thanks again.

    Kerry

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-05-11T12:11:10+00:00

    I did!

    Tried adding new slides in different ways and the numbering works perfectly. 

    Thanks a lot!

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-05-11T11:51:09+00:00

    Check carefully that NEW slides do what you need.

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