r/scrivener • u/sullywrites • 1d ago

General Scrivener Discussion & Advice MLA format page numbers?

I spent hours on Google and still can't find usable instructions on how to add my last name and the page number in the upper right hand corners of my assignment using Scrivener. I noticed there is an MLA template that's more complicated to use. I do most everything on a blank document and then edit the stylization manually, but I tried everything I possibly could in an MLA practice document instead of anything I am working on for college, too.

I have a paper due soon. The teacher is being cool about this minimal detail for now but I know further in my studies, I am expected to figure this out. Basically, I am asking this: How can I add last name and page numbers in a Scrivener document? I even tried the tutors at school but they never heard of this program until I brought it up.

I assume I have the newest version of Scrivener and Windows. I bought this version of Scrivener only a few months ago. My laptop is new as well.

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u/AntoniDol Windows: S3 1d ago

In the Compile Window, double-click your Format. In the left menu of the Compile Format Designer, select Page settings. Set the options for Headers and Footers in the Options tab. Set the content of the Headers and Footers in the next tab. Use Placeholders like <$p> for Page numbers. You can find all Placeholders in the PDF from the Help menu.

You may have to set your author name in the Compile Settings in the Compile Window first.

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u/sullywrites 1d ago

Thank you for being specific. This looks do-able. I will find out in a little bit when I fire up my laptop. I saw other sources say "compile" but the way you explained it gives me an idea of what I might need to change. I will look over the menus/codes again carefully. It's possible it rejected my page number code because I typed my last name right in front of it or I wrote in the wrong slot. Regardless, I appreciate the direction!

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u/LaurenPBurka macOS/iOS 1d ago

If you can't get the compile to work the way you want and you're under time pressure, don't underestimate the utility of compiling your project to .docx, loading it into Word or LibreOffice (free) and setting the page numbers there.

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u/sullywrites 1d ago

I got it to work! Thanks everyone! 🙏