I think numbering each section separately is a silly idea, too.
> FWIW, I've never had much luck with the absolute numbers.
>
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>> > it to another file won't work, either, since I have bookmarks with page
>> > references.
Agreed, but I do number front matter in books separately when there is
enough of it to matter. That is, if there are just a half-title and title
page before the book begins, I won't bother, but if in addition there are a
TOC, a list of illustrations, a preface, etc., then I'll roman-number the
front matter and start the main text at 1.

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Suzanne S. Barnhill
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Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
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> I think numbering each section separately is a silly idea, too.
>
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> >> > it to another file won't work, either, since I have bookmarks with page
> >> > references.