Add page numbers to PDF documents, in your format
A court bundle, a thesis appendix or a merged board pack needs page numbers, and the pages came from different files. Your todo.is agent numbers every page in one consistent style, can skip the cover or start at any number, and makes sure the numbers don't sit on top of existing footers.
The prompt
- Add page numbers to the attached PDF: [ATTACH THE PDF]. Format: [FORMAT]. Put them [POSITION] in [FONT AND SIZE]. Start numbering on [FIRST NUMBERED PAGE] with the number [START NUMBER]. If a page already has text where the number goes, move the number slightly so nothing overlaps. Keep everything else the same and send me the numbered PDF.
What to change
- [ATTACH THE PDF]: Attach the PDF (up to 50 MB). If you have several files, attach them all and ask to merge them first.
- [FORMAT]: E.g. "1, 2, 3", "Page 3 of 40", "- 3 -", Roman numerals for the intro, or a Bates style like "SMITH-000123".
- [POSITION]: E.g. "bottom center", "bottom right", "top right" or "outside corners" for printed booklets.
- [FONT AND SIZE]: E.g. "Arial 10 pt", "the same font as the document" or "small and grey".
- [FIRST NUMBERED PAGE]: E.g. "page 1", "page 2, skip the cover" or "the first page after the table of contents".
- [START NUMBER]: E.g. "1", or "41" if this file continues an earlier bundle.
Example result
- Page numbering report: Board_Pack_Q3.pdf
- 64 pages · numbers on pages 2 to 64 · format "Page 1 of 63"
- Settings used
- • Position: bottom center, 1.2 cm from the edge
- • Font: Arial 9 pt, dark grey
- • Start: the cover (PDF page 1) has no number; PDF page 2 is "Page 1 of 63"
- • Total: counts only numbered pages, so the last page reads "Page 63 of 63"
- Pages your agent adjusted
- • PDF pages 18 to 21: the finance report already had its own footer at bottom center. Numbers moved 0.6 cm higher so they don't overlap
- • PDF page 40: landscape chart. The number is placed at the bottom center of the page as you read it, not along the side
- • PDF page 52: a full-bleed photo. The number sits on a small white tag so it stays readable
- What did not change
- • Page content, links and bookmarks
- • The file size grew only slightly (from 8.1 to 8.2 MB)
- Common numbering styles
- • Simple: 1, 2, 3 · good for reports and handouts
- • Page X of Y: shows if a page is missing · good for contracts and bundles
- • Roman then Arabic: i, ii, iii for the front matter, then 1, 2, 3 · used in theses and books
- • Bates numbering: a prefix plus a fixed-width number (ACME-000001) · used for legal discovery
- • Outside corners: alternating left and right · for double-sided printing
- Next steps
- • "Update the table of contents with these page numbers"
- • "Add a bookmark for each section"
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and pick the number format and position.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen with the PDF attached, or send it to your agent on WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
- Your agent numbers the pages and checks for overlaps with existing footers.
- Download the numbered PDF. Reply "start at 5" or "move to the right" to change it.
Tips for a better result
- "Page X of Y" is best for contracts and legal bundles: the reader can tell at once if a page is missing.
- Merge all parts first, then number. Numbering each file separately leads to repeats.
- For legal discovery, ask for Bates numbers with a prefix and a fixed width, such as ACME-000001.
- If you will print double-sided and bind it, ask for numbers on the outside corners.
add page numbers to PDF: FAQ
- How do I add page numbers to a PDF without the first page? Say "start numbering on page 2". You can also choose whether that page shows 1 or 2.
- Can I add 'Page 1 of 10' to a PDF? Yes. Ask for the format "Page X of Y" and your agent fills in the total for every page.
- Can I add Bates numbers to a PDF? Yes. Give a prefix and a starting number, like "SMITH-000001", and every page gets the next number in the same format.
- Will the page numbers cover existing text? Your agent checks the space where each number goes and moves it slightly when a footer or image is already there.
JavaScript is required to use the todo.is app.