It's important to make sure the right page numbers show in the Pages palette because that's what InDesign is going to reference when we run the Index for the book--you certainly don't want it to seem like everything in the book is on pages 2 or 3!
To set your page numbers, first click on Window > Pages and double-click on the left page of your spread to make sure it's selected. Then click on the Layout Menu > Numbering & Section Options:
Make sure to click on the "Start Page Numbering" option and then simply type in the left side page number for your spread and click on OK. Remember, the left side page number is ALWAYS an even number.
That's it! Double-check that the correct page numbers appear in both the Pages palette AND on the bottom of the Herff Jones template.
What if the template doesn't update the page numbers when you follow the steps above? It most likely means that at some point somebody went to the Master Page area of the template and tried to type the page numbers directly into the boxes, instead of going to the Layout>Numbering & Section Options area and following the steps above. To fix the template and make it work auto-magically again, follow these steps:
Go to the Master page of the Template by double-clicking either page at the top of the Pages palette (Window > Pages) and then switch to the T tool. Select whatever appears inside the page number box on the template and click on Type > Insert > Special Character > Marker > Current Page Number.
Do that for the right page and you're all set. Whatever is set in the Layout>Numbering & Section Options area will be shown on the template.