what is the procedure to create repeatable objects on one page and have it auto update on all pages?
Layout> Insert Number does this, but i'm not sure how. I'd like to create header / footer on one page and be able to edit it and have it effect all pages.
Try to look at CLONE tool
Clone Tool? do you mean: Edit--> Clone? Currently looking into Symbol Manager might be what will work.
Well, it's really simple. Open Objects or Object manager and create a master layer on all pages & then simply put your header footer on the master layer. You can even make a master layer on even or odd pages so that you can put a left-facing header on the even page & the right-facing header on the odd page.