Can heading 2 outline numbering be made continuous with heading 1?

[Peter York]

I have been banging my head against the wall with this
problem for an entire day and I'm so glad I learned about newsgroups! I
hope this is a simple question with a simple answer.

I am using word 2000.

My goal is to create an outline numbered document where the numbering of
text formatted with the Heading 2 style is continuous with the numbering of
text formatted with the Heading 1 style, for example:

1. Heading 1
2. Heading 1
3. Heading 1
4. Heading 2
5. Heading 2
6. Heading 1
7. Heading 1
8. Heading 2

A different way of expressing my desired format is shown below:

1. Heading 1 (I will always start with 1. as Heading 1)
2. Heading 1 or Heading 2
3. Heading 1 or Heading 2
4. Heading 2 or Heading 1
5. Heading 2 etc.
6. Heading 1
7. Heading 1
8. Heading 2

Is this possible or does this violate the fundamental design of outline
numbering?

If this is doable (I've got my fingers crossed), then I would also like to
define a third level of my outline numbering scheme (I realize that all the
levels need to be defined when I setup the outline numbering for the first
time), like so:

1.-7. as above, then
8. Heading 1 or Heading 2
a. Heading 3
b. Heading 3
c. Heading 3
9. Heading 1 or Heading 2
10. Heading 1 or Heading 2
a. Heading 3
b. Heading 3
c. Heading 3
11. Heading 1 or Heading 2

Any thoughts or ideas are greatly appreciated,

Peter York

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Peter

I can't see how this is going to be possible using ordinary outline numbering. The reason is that you would need to create a
circular argument: the numbering for a Heading 2 paragraph depends on the preceding Heading 1; but the numbering for a Heading 1
paragraph depends on the preceding Heading 2. Computers aren't good at circular logic like that.

The proper way to solve this problem is to use SEQ fields. There's info about SEQ fields in Word's help.

But what most people do is cheat. You can exploit a flaw in Word's object model and proceed as follows.

Ignore, for the moment, your need for Heading 2. Set up your numbering as described at
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html as follows:

1 Heading 1
2 Heading 1
a Heading 2
b Heading 2
3 Heading 1
a Heading 2

Now, put your cursor in a Heading 1 paragraph. Format > Style > New (or Format > Styles and Formatting and click New Style). Give
your new style a name like Heading 1_X. Note that this new style is based on Heading 1. And owing to a flaw in the object model, it
will take on Heading 1's numbering. So you can have something like the following:

8. Heading 1 or Heading 1_X
a. Heading 2
b. Heading 2
c. Heading 2
9. Heading 1 or Heading 1_X
10. Heading 1 or Heading 1_X
a. Heading 2
b. Heading 2
c. Heading 2
11. Heading 1 or Heading 1_X

Note that you will have problems in copying paragraphs numbered in this way from document to document (the exploitation of the flaw
doesn't survive the copying). And don't count on this lasting forever: Microsoft might one day figure out that you can do what you
shouldn't be able to do!

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word
Melbourne, Australia