Linking starting page numbers to ending page numbers in a different section

[dbowlds]

Here is what I am trying to do. Let's say I have a 6-section document, and I need the page number for section 6 to continue numbering from the end of section 4. In other words, section 5 interrupts the flow of the pages. So, if section 4 ended at page 5, and then section 5 has xx pages (numbered 1 - xx), then section 6 would need to start on page 6, picking up where section 4 left off.

Through research and tinkering, I have figured out how to do this manually via code (see below) but the starting page number in section 6 is not linked in any fashion to section 4 so if section 4's page count changes, section 6's starting page number won't automatically update to reflect it. So, my question is, is there a way to do this via a formula in a page field in the footer?

Here is the code to do it manually. In this scenario the code assumes when you run it you want to your current section to two sections prior. If I end up having to go this route, I'd change this such that the user has the ability to input which section they would like to continue numbering from.
The commented out code is there just to confirm (for my own knowledge) that the method is returning the physical page numbers for each section (which it does).

Thoughts?

Private Sub cmdSectionNumbers_Click()
'    Dim sectionscount As Long, myLoop As Long
'
'    sectionscount = ActiveDocument.Sections.Count
'    For myLoop = 1 To sectionscount
'        Debug.Print myLoop & " = "; ActiveDocument.Sections(myLoop).range.Information(WdInformation.wdActiveEndPageNumber) & " pages"
'    Next myLoop




    Dim curSection As Long
    Dim prev2SectionPgs As Long
    Dim prev3SectionPgs As Long
    Dim adjustedPg As Long


    curSection = Selection.Information(wdActiveEndSectionNumber)
    If curSection < 3 Then
        MsgBox "Must have at least 3 sections in the document. Aborting operation."
        Exit Sub
    End If
    MsgBox "Current section = " & curSection


    prev2SectionPgs = ActiveDocument.Sections(curSection - 2).range.Information(WdInformation.wdActiveEndPageNumber)
    MsgBox "Section " & curSection - 2 & " page count = " & prev2SectionPgs


    prev3SectionPgs = ActiveDocument.Sections(curSection - 3).range.Information(WdInformation.wdActiveEndPageNumber)
    MsgBox "Section " & curSection - 3 & " page count = " & prev3SectionPgs


    adjustedPg = prev2SectionPgs - prev3SectionPgs + 1
    MsgBox "Adjusted page count for this section = " & adjustedPg


    With ActiveDocument.Sections(curSection).Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).PageNumbers
        .NumberStyle = wdPageNumberStyleArabic
        .IncludeChapterNumber = False
        .RestartNumberingAtSection = True
        .StartingNumber = adjustedPg
    End With
End Sub

[dbowlds]

I'm guessing what I am asking for is not possible, right?

[macropod]

You could unlink the header or footer of Sections 5 & 6 from the previous Sections, then insert a SET field containing a SECTIONPAGES field in Section 5, thus:
{SET Sctn5 {SECTIONPAGES}}
after which you can insert a formula field in Section 6 coded as:
{={PAGE}-Sctn5 \# 0}
The numbering will now be correct - with one important caveat: A Table of Contents will not respect the calculated Page #s.

FWIW, your code might work better as:

Private Sub cmdSectionNumbers_Click()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim SctnA As Long, SctnB As Long, Fld As Field
SctnB = Selection.Information(wdActiveEndSectionNumber)
If SctnB < 3 Then
  MsgBox "Selection in Section: " & SctnB & vbCr & _
  "Must choose at least the 3rd section in the document." & vbCr & _
  "Aborting operation.", vbCritical
  Exit Sub
End If
With ActiveDocument
  SctnA = .Sections(SctnB - 2).Range.Information(wdActiveEndAdjustedPageNumber)
  With .Sections(SctnB - 1)
    With .Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary)
      .LinkToPrevious = False
      For Each Fld In .Range.Fields
        Select Case Fld.Type
          Case wdFieldPage, wdFieldNumPages, wdFieldSectionPages: Fld.Delete
        End Select
      Next
    End With
  End With
  With .Sections(SctnB).Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary)
    .LinkToPrevious = False
    With .PageNumbers
      .NumberStyle = ActiveDocument.Sections(SctnA).Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).PageNumbers.NumberStyle
      .IncludeChapterNumber = ActiveDocument.Sections(SctnA).Headers(wdHeaderFooterPrimary).PageNumbers.IncludeChapterNumber
      .RestartNumberingAtSection = True
      .StartingNumber = SctnA + 1
    End With
  End With
End With
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub

Note, in particular, the code to delete page numbering from the intermediate Section.

[dbowlds]

Thank you! I will give this a try.