Regarding "hiding" a page number, maybe do @headings off at the beginning of the page where you want the headings, and then @headings on (or @headings double) at the beginning of the next page (after the page break). Or play around with @everyheading or related, depending on exactly what you want to do.
Regarding your setting to -13 having no effect, I can't reproduce the problem. Below is my test file which has the dedication as i, the short contents as ii, the contents as iii, the preface as iv, and the first chapter as 1. Perhaps it is a difference in texinfo.tex; try getting the latest released version from http://ftpmirror.gnu.org/texinfo/texinfo.tex. Sorry this is so messy, but such is life. karl \input texinfo @setfilename pageneg @headings single @tex \global\pageno = -1 @end tex This is the dedication page. @page @tex \global\pageno = -2 @end tex @shortcontents @tex \global\pageno = -3 @end tex @contents @tex \global\pageno = -4 @end tex This is the preface. @page @tex \global\pageno = 1 @end tex @chapter C1 This is chapter 1. @chapter C2 This is chapter 2. @bye
