I came up with the answer to my problem one sleepless night.

I have just finished a job for two different tickets (adult, student), printed front/back, 6-up, 3000 numbered tickets of each. The tickets are set up 3 down and 2 across. So, I created the master page with the automatic numbering. Upper left ticket # used “List1” starting at 001. Center left ticket #, “List2” starting at 501. Bottom left, “List3” starting at 1001. Used 6 different lists each starting to number at the prior start +500. I did use a completely different file for the back. I just couldn't see having 1000 pages in each document instead of 500.

This solved 2 problems. No longer are the numbers in different sequences on different pages. No longer do they have to be hand collated to be put in consecutive order. Once the sheets are cut the stack that came from the upper left is numbered 0001-0500, center left 0501-1000, etc. This is just a sweet solution to the whole thing.

Hope this makes sense and helps someone else.

On another note…I discovered that you should never (and I do mean never) use auto numbering in lists on a half sheet form and then option+click+drag to create the second half of the page. I had 2 lists in the form, 1-4 and 1-3. Option+cllck+drag and the copy also had 2 lists, which no one discovered until after printing, 6-8 and 4-6. OOPS!!! Fortunately the secretary was very understanding. So, that was my learning experience for yesterday…

Thanks for your replies. David, I had forgotten about Sandee's contest until I clicked on your link.

I'm not an expert on format strengths and weaknesses but felt strongly that PSD or TIF were the way to go in most instances.

BTW, The many of the files that I received were duotones. They were almost all created within the past 2-3 months.

You are all great!

Thanks collywolly! I had come to that conclusion. I'm going to have a boatload of these over the next couple of months. I just need to remember to take it step by step so that it comes out correctly.

Can I put the trim marks on a separate layer and hid it while I'm doing the merge?