Hi,
I have some reference books I use and in all of them I have this problem:
The number written on the document pages doesn't match the number my pdf reader says, and for every document it has a different offset. That is, for example when I go to page 16, then on the page itself it's written that it's page 5 and not 16.
It's an annoying problem.
Is there any way to fix this by changing the pdf numbering or is there any workaround?
It is normal
One is showing the original page number as if it was a book
The other is showing the page number per each amount of scroll within the document as viewed on your pc
When I want to look up something in a pdf ebook, I go to the table of contents. There I get the page number I need. I then go to that page just to find out I have to scroll some 11 pages down to get to my page.
I'm looking for a way to get this to work better. Any ideas?
They only match up when everything is just right.
If you are using the page number the document itself shows in the pane..then you have to use that number.
Here is an example of why they often do not match...lets say if a large pdf file will a couple hundred pages....the index is large and has 2 columns on one page.
Here is what happens your Pc will have to scroll down a page to see that large page,unless the document was created specifically to show both columns on one page
Here is a screen shot of a phone manual having the pc view start at page for for page one.
The first 3 pages were contact info and disclaimers.
It is very common for them to not match...there really isnt any fixing as it is merely the document itself being responsible as to whether they will match
You don´t need to do this. It´s just a matter of getting used to this huge deficit in this absolutely ridiculous program. People often use this format because they don´t know any better or they´re too lazy to do it properly.
I have complained to a few authors, and they really don´t care, even when they understand.
A bit harsh, don't you think? No pdf creator I've ever seen will automatically match the page numbering of the original document. And practically no documents are created in pdf, but in something else and then converted to pdf. It seems to me it would add minimal value for the time spent to edit a pdf just so the page numbers correspond.
I deal with literally hundreds of very large pdf documents at work, and have never, ever come across one with corresponding page numbers. It would actually be difficult to do since in most of these documents the page numbers restart or the format changes for appendices, indexes, etc., and many pages have no number at all.
It's just not that difficult to note how many pages of front matter there are and add that to the page number of the document you want to go to. If you're a page or two off it's no big deal.
Not remotely harsh. A document created by a PDF program will always have the proper page numbers. It's the lazy, ignorant types who create these problems.
Think about it;most people don't understand an instruction that says, "Go to page 22" when it really means "Go to the page that used to be 22 before I did this really shoddy conversion to one of the web's worst piece of software that's full of security holes".
When your customer sees that you can't even number the pages correctly, you're gong to lose customers. There's no excuse for this.
PDF XChange Viewer (the free version) has the ability to create bookmarks- I often use that to solve the problem you are speaking of. I just create bookmarks to take me to pages of interest- and title these bookmarks to let me know the information I am looking for. (This is somewhat like creating a new index- and can be as tedious or simple an index as you choose).
Think about it, the problem you are describing is the same whether in an ebook or a hardcopy; page one is almost never the first actual sheet of paper in a book--- you have the cover, the blank inside protection sheet, title page, copyright and/or edition and printing information- eventually they begin renumbering the pages at page number one. The pdf calls the cover (when included) as page one, blank sheets are all numbered, etc. The idea of creating bookmarks takes you immediately to the beginning of a chapter (or whatever is of importance to you). The process to create such bookmarks takes only a few moments- and works like a charm.
http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer
One caveat I would offer, however, is that I don't find this program quite as good for highlighting and copying as Foxit Reader (Foxit's free version also has more editing and markup features than the free version of PDF Xchange Viewer-- so I use both for their individual strengths).
letchworth
Let's not miss the point here: The (Gigantic) problem is that the original document often says "Go to page x for more info." That page number is not the same as the number assigned by the pdf program, so the reader is at a loss as to how to proceed. This applies to Tables of Contents as well.
I have asked some authors to make the necessary changes, and they are not interested. This suggests to me that the paper itself probably isn't worth reading.
Oh, come on. As a retired military person, only my respect for your CIB avatar keeps me from saying what I really think of your reply. The fact is, even the Go to Page feature in MS Word doesn't work unless the pages are numbered a specific way. You just have to learn to adapt, my friend.
"Saying what you really think?"
If you think software that doesn't work is occasion for dissing me instead of the morons who misuse it, I suspect your priorities are skewed. Any company that publishes documents with mis-numbered pages is hiring idiots and is run by idiots. This is easily corrected, and it's a failure of management that it's allowed to occur.
The PDF format is designed to provide a reproducible printed output from any system. It isn't that the authors you've complained to don't understand or don't care about what you're saying. It's that what you are asking for is wrong.
Well-designed PDFs have internal linking, so a reference in the index will be a link to the page it's referencing. Catering to your inability to work a PDF viewer ... now that would be poor management.
I don't know another way to say it. It's entirely possible for a knowledgeable person to make a PDF such that the page numbers match. When a lazy, ignorant author publishes a document that misleads the reader, it's complete and utter crap, and leads to the confusion the OP experienced.
There are millions of these docs on the web and they reflect the standards of the author.
You may have been bullied into accepting second rate junk, but I'm not going for it.
The only way that the Word and PDF page numbering would be the same, is if the Word document started with page one as the "Cover" and did a single continuous numbering to the last page.
This goes for ALL document editors, not JUST Word.
Have you tried double clicking in the index. I use PDF XChange Viewer "Free Version" and getting .pdf's from same place I also see pages from the book not being the same. I just adjust to it. But some of the .pdf booklets I can double click on the index and it jumps to that page. So lots has to so with how they made the .pdf.
You're not getting it, Dave. My complaint, and the complaint of millions who use these documents is that the internal references don't match the actual page numbers This happens when lazy, ignorant, indifferent publishers use this format and don't give a damn about the reader. If a document says "See page 3" I expect it to have a page 3 containing the info referenced, but that's often not the case. Getting this right is part of creating a professional document, and anything less is pure crap.
I fail to understand why people put up with this and actually defend the practice, although I suspect it's something to do with low standards.
A properly prepared PDF is a joy to use, all others should be burned before reading.
The only way that the Word and PDF page numbering would be the same, is if the Word document started with page one as the "Cover" and did a single continuous numbering to the last page.
This goes for ALL document editors, not JUST Word.
You guys do realize that if you pick up a book, you know those made of paper, and take a look at them that they also have this "skewed" numbering right? The page numbered "1" is preceded by several pages such as the cover, preface, index, sometimes just a blank page. Documents generally start page numbering on the first page of the main content of the document and generally readers use the numbering on the pages themselves and not which actually physical page they are on, for example when someone tells you go to page 3 in a novel, you don't count the pages physically starting at the cover.
Of course, and therein lies the rub. When people "convert" their docs to pdfs they don't consider this and the new document page numbers are no longer consistent with the internal references of the the doc before conversion. This just lazy and unprofessional and I find it unacceptable.
You guys do realize that if you pick up a book, you know those made of paper, and take a look at them that they also have this "skewed" numbering right? The page numbered "1" is preceded by several pages such as the cover, preface, index, sometimes just a blank page. Documents generally start page numbering on the first page of the main content of the document and generally readers use the numbering on the pages themselves and not which actually physical page they are on, for example when someone tells you go to page 3 in a novel, you don't count the pages physically starting at the cover.
But the point is, there's no need to convert the the page number when changing from one media type to another. Why should the cover and index be not included as a numbered page in a printed document but be included as numbered page in a digital document - there should be one standard and the digital document is following. No one is saying that paperback printers should start numbering their books starting at the cover, its simply a given that the cover is not included as a number page 0 the same goes for a digital copy.
Given Adobe could provide code to display both page number schemes but this is definitely not a case of the person being 'lazy' as you keep stating and as everyone else in this thread has also tried explaining.
Then I'll go with "Unprofessional."
I feel like a lost soul crying in the wilderness.
If a document refers me to "page 3" and page 3 doesn't reflect the info I seek it's a piece of junk.
Google "PDF page numbers wrong" and you'll get nearly 10,000,000 hits, suggesting I'm not the only one who finds this abhorrent. Any document with such glaring and confusing internal inconsistencies is third grade stuff and the publisher should hang his head in shame.
I do GET IT, it is these "BOOKS" that are converted to a digital format, the converter has NO control over the internal page numbering
All I did was state that a NEW digital book must start with page one as the cover.
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