How to make `"1 / 1"` numbering ignore the back matter?

[Y.D.X]

The "1 / 1" numbering pattern displays the current and total number of pages, where the total number means the final top-level count.

I want to use "1 / 1" for main matter, and "A" for back matter. Therefore, the final count would be the number of pages of the back matter. How to change it to that of the main matter?

#set page(height: auto, width: 10em)

#set page(numbering: "1 / 1")

Main matter // 1 / 3 👈 How to change to 1 / 2?
#pagebreak()
Main matter // 2 / 3 👈 How to change to 2 / 2?
#pagebreak()

// I need "A", but let’s use "A / 1" for debugging.
#set page(numbering: "A / 1")
#counter(page).update(1)

Back matter // A / 3
#pagebreak()
Back matter // B / 3
#pagebreak()
Back matter // C / 3

Besides, should this behaviour be considered as a bug?

Update

I find anti-matter – Typst Universe from the following answer, but its latest release was in December 2023. Is it still relevant today? It can’t compile with typst v0.13 because “only element functions can be used as selectors”.

How can I continue frontmatter numbering in backmatter?

You can look at the package anti-matter – Typst Universe. If you don’t want to use a package, then a simple PoC would be #let frontmatter(body) = { set page(numbering: "i") body } #let mainmatter(body) = { set page(numbering: "1") context counter("antimatter").update(counter(page).get()) body } #let backmatter(body) = { set page(numbering: "i") context counter(page).update(counter("antimatter").get()) body } #show: frontmatter #lorem(100) #pagebreak() #lore…

[sijo]

As you say 1 / 1 uses the final counter value. If that’s not what you want, you can build the footer manually:

#set page(height: auto, width: 10em)

#set page(footer: context align(center)[
 #counter(page).get().first() / #counter(page).at(<main-end>).first()
])

Main matter
#pagebreak()
Main matter
<main-end>

#pagebreak()

// I need "A", but let’s use "A / 1" for debugging.
#set page(numbering: "A / 1", footer: auto)
#counter(page).update(1)

Back matter // A / 3
#pagebreak()
Back matter // B / 3
#pagebreak()
Back matter // C / 3

[Y.D.X]

Thanks! I didn’t know labels can be used like that.

I replace your footer with numbering, and end up with the following.

#set page(numbering: (..nums) => [
  #nums.pos().first() / #counter(page).at(<main-matter-end>).first()
])

Main matter

#metadata("End of main matter") <main-matter-end>
#set page(numbering: "A")
#counter(page).update(1)

Back matter

[sijo]

Ah yes it’s nicer to just change the numbering! You can mark your own version as accepted answer.

[Y.D.X]

It’s nice of you! And I’ve updated my post with #metadata, because I found the unbound label complains occasionally (e.g., the main matter ends with another label).