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Short answer: wkhtmltopdf documents --page-offset as a single, global starting-number adjustment. It does not document a command-line switch that restarts the counter at an arbitrary page or section in the same PDF. The [page], [frompage], and [topage] header/footer tokens display values; they are not documented as section-local counters.
If you need numbering to restart in the middle of a document, treat it as a workflow problem: verify your exact wkhtmltopdf build, decide whether you need only different displayed text or actual PDF page labels, and consider producing sections separately or calculating a custom value in the header/footer. Test the final paginated PDF because the cited documentation does not establish a universal in-file reset.
What wkhtmltopdf can and cannot reset
The official wkhtmltopdf usage documentation describes --page-offset <offset> as setting the starting page number, with a default of 0. The libwkhtmltox settings reference describes pageOffset as a number added to all page numbers printed in headers, footers, and the table of contents. Both descriptions are global.
That is different from restarting at page 1 when a later section begins. The reviewed documentation does not define a per-section offset, a reset marker, or a page-object option that starts a new counter. A project report about combining documents records that applying offsets to individual objects did not produce the requested original numbering, and another report asks whether a new section can restart footer numbering. These reports document real use cases, not a guaranteed behavior for every fork or packaged build.
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Three requirements that are often confused
- Change the first number: add or subtract a global value with
--page-offset. - Hide a number on a cover: use a cover or conditional header/footer markup, without changing the counter.
- Restart later: display a new sequence inside one output PDF. This is not a documented native wkhtmltopdf feature.
Use the documented global offset
Use this when every printed page should shift by the same amount. For example, to make the first printed page display 10 instead of the default sequence, pass an offset of 10:
wkhtmltopdf --page-offset 10 https://example.com report.pdfThe offset affects the values exposed to headers, footers, and the table of contents. It does not split the output into independent counters. Confirm the result with the exact binary you deploy, because distributions and forks can differ.
Display page values in a footer
For a simple text footer, use the documented substitution tokens:
wkhtmltopdf
--footer-center "Page [page] of [topage]"
https://example.com report.pdf[page]is the current printed page.[frompage]is the first page to be printed.[topage]is the last page to be printed.
These substitutions format the values wkhtmltopdf has calculated. They do not create a second counter when a heading, URL, or page object changes.
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Use an HTML header or footer when layout logic is needed
The manual also supports HTML headers and footers. A minimal footer file could contain:
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<!doctype html>
<html>
<body style="font-size:9pt; text-align:center; margin:0">
Page [page] of [topage]
</body>
</html>Invoke it with the appropriate HTML-footer option for your build and verify that local-file access, fonts, and external assets are permitted. The placeholders remain substitutions, not section resets.
Why repeating an offset does not provide a documented reset
The object-level settings reference includes pagesCount, which controls whether an object’s pages count in the counter used for the table of contents, headers, and footers. It does not say that the next object starts at page 1. Likewise, --replace <name> <value> substitutes names in header/footer text; it is not documented as a dynamic section counter.
Consequently, adding another --page-offset to a later page object, or changing pagesCount in the hope of restarting, is not a supported recipe. If your command appears to work, regard that as behavior of that particular binary and test upgrades, covers, TOCs, and different pagination.
Choose a workflow for a mid-document restart
Before changing commands, write down what must be true in the final PDF. The answer determines whether wkhtmltopdf alone is sufficient.
| Requirement | What to verify | Likely approach |
|---|---|---|
| Only the initial displayed number changes | All pages may keep one sequence | Use global --page-offset |
| A later section displays 1, 2, 3… | One PDF versus several files; dynamic page heights | Separate rendering or custom display calculation, then verify pagination |
| PDF viewers must show section-local page labels | Whether labels, not footer text, are required | Apply labels in a downstream PDF-processing stage |
| TOC totals must restart too | TOC generation and object counting | Test the exact build; documentation does not promise section-local TOC counters |
Option A: render sections as separate PDFs
- Render the cover and each section to its own PDF, using the same margins, paper size, fonts, and header/footer dimensions.
- Set each section’s initial display with its own global
--page-offset, or use a section-specific footer. - Merge the PDFs with a PDF tool that preserves the intended order and inspect every boundary.
- Check whether the merger preserves, replaces, or ignores PDF page labels. Footer text and viewer page labels are separate concepts.
This approach gives each render an independent pagination context, but it can change line wrapping if the section is rendered with different resources or options. Recalculate offsets after the final merge if you need continuous numbering elsewhere.
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Option B: calculate the displayed value yourself
A custom HTML footer can print a value derived from the physical page number and a section’s known starting page. This is only reliable when the section boundary is deterministic. Dynamic content, lazy resources, font substitution, a cover, a TOC, or changed margins can move the boundary. The supplied documentation does not validate a universal JavaScript or replacement-variable implementation, so treat this as build-specific engineering and compare the generated PDF against a page-by-page specification.
Option C: post-process the finished PDF
If the requirement concerns PDF page labels or a viewer’s navigation rather than visible footer text, generate the PDF first and apply labels in a dedicated PDF-processing stage. Keep the original footer decision separate: changing labels does not automatically change text already painted onto a page. Validate links, bookmarks, TOC destinations, and accessibility metadata after processing.
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The upstream GitHub repository was archived by its owner on January 2, 2023 and is read-only. That makes it especially important to record whether you use an official package, an operating-system build, a patched build, or a downstream fork.
wkhtmltopdf --version
wkhtmltopdf --extended-help | grep -E "page-offset|footer|header|toc|cover"Capture the complete command, operating system, package version, and whether the input uses cover, toc, or multiple page objects. Do not assume that a “works on my machine” result applies to another binary.
Troubleshooting page-number problems
The sequence starts at the wrong number
Check the sign and placement of --page-offset, then inspect the rendered footer rather than a PDF viewer’s physical page index. Remember that the documented default is 0 and that the setting is global.
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A later section continues numbering
That is the documented limitation: no section-reset switch is described. Stop adding repeated offsets to page objects. Render sections separately, calculate a custom display value, or apply labels after rendering, and test the final merged file.
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[topage] is not the total you expect
[topage] reflects the last page wkhtmltopdf is printing for that output. Covers, TOCs, page ranges, object-count settings, and changed content can alter it. Verify whether the desired total is for the whole PDF or only one section.
The footer is blank or shows literal tokens
Confirm that the option name matches your build, that the footer is enabled, and that the HTML footer is reachable. Test with a plain text footer first, then add CSS and assets. A literal [page] usually indicates that the value was not processed in the context where it was placed.
Offsets appear ignored on combined documents
Reproduce with the smallest command containing the same page objects. The project issue report about combining documents records this symptom. Compare the exact binary and command-line ordering, then consider separate rendering and downstream merging rather than relying on undocumented object-level behavior.
The PDF looks right but viewer numbering is wrong
Visible footer text and PDF page labels are independent. If users need the viewer’s page panel or print dialog to show section-local labels, perform a label operation after wkhtmltopdf and verify bookmarks and TOC destinations.
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Performance and reliability considerations
- Pagination is the dependency: any approach based on a known section start can fail when web fonts, images, JavaScript, or responsive layout changes page breaks.
- Freeze inputs for repeatability: use fixed assets, deterministic CSS, and a consistent viewport and paper configuration when comparing offsets.
- Inspect boundaries: verify the first and last page of every section, plus the cover and TOC if present.
- Keep an audit record: save the version output, full command, source revision, and post-processing command so a numbering change can be reproduced.
- Separate display from semantics: decide whether readers need printed text, PDF labels, or both before selecting a workaround.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does --page-offset change PDF page labels?
It changes the page values wkhtmltopdf prints in headers, footers, and the table of contents; it is not documented as a general PDF page-label editor.
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A cover can be handled as a separate object or render, but the cited documentation does not promise that this will restart the following object at page 1. Verify the exact build and final output.
Which wkhtmltopdf versions support section resets?
The reviewed primary documentation does not identify a native section-reset switch. Check your packaged build or fork independently, especially because the upstream repository is archived.
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