Editing Outlines Numbering in Word 2003

[Alan Garber]

In the past if you wanted to change the numbering or the left indentation of
your outline numbering, you had to edit the heading levels through "Heading
1" style. I just took a class and the instructor told us that this is no
longer required with Word 2003. I couldn't find validation for this on the
Internet.



Is this true? Is it now possible to edit outline numbering through any of
the styles linked to the outline levels? e.g., change the number format of
Heading 3 by editing Heading 3's style.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I wouldn't bet on it. Stick with
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Alan, Suzanne

Before Word 2003, there were a couple of problems that could be reproduced
systematically and which would always break a numbering sequence if you
didn't start with the Heading 1 style. In Word 2003 those particular
problems are solved.

But numbering still demonstrates many other bugs and problems. One can
largely (though not completely) overcome them if one follows the steps
described http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html.
So I stick with the rules that I know work, rather than risking something
that might work. You can, of course, start the process in Heading 3, but
it's your document and your risk<g>.

Hope this helps.

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

 

[Alan Garber]

Thanks Suzanne and Shauna,

I was skeptical about this, and your answers do not surprise me. Hopefully,
they perfect the numbering procedures in the next upgrade. At least the
numbering will _probably_ not break as easily.

 

[Joseph N.]

Before Word 2003, there were a couple of problems that could be
reproduced systematically and which would always break a
numbering sequence if you didn't start with the Heading 1 style.
In Word 2003 those particular problems are solved.

But numbering still demonstrates many other bugs and problems.

Shauna, can you give, or point to, any more information on what was
changed in the numbering for Wd 2003?

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Before Word 2003, every time you went to the Customize Outline Numbered List
dialog, Word would create another ListTemplate. You can't see that in the
user interface, but you can see it in VBA. So in Word 2003, if you start
with your cursor in, say, a Heading 3 paragraph, then you have a running
chance that Word will edit the right ListTemplate. However, Word is still
prone to allocating the same style to more than one ListTemplate, which
creates all kinds of problems. But my experience is that this can be avoided
if you always always always start with the cursor in a level 1 paragraph.

Hope this helps.

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

 

[Joseph N.]

But my experience is that this can be avoided
if you always always always start with the cursor in a level 1
paragraph.

This is a new piece of advice to me. Sounds like an important
guideline to get out there. Thanks.

 

[Michael Quin-Conroy]

Shauna,

I am using Word 2000 on Win XP and I followed this direction of yours to
solve my problem of Outline Numbering but I get a tab (.63) appearing in
every new paragraph. I can clear it but it re-appears again. Is there a way
of removing them?

I am using this facility for numbering but I am not numbering headings. Is
there any reason why you suggest using the "Heading" style to set up the
numbering?

If it must be headings is there a way that the "Heading" can be re-named so
that it is more descriptive of its function?

Michael

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Michael

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

If you're using Word 2000, you need to remove the default tabs after you set
up your numbering. Click in a paragraph with the problem style. Format >
Styles > Modify > Format > Tabs, and delete them.

Reasons for using the built-in heading styles are at
Why use Microsoft Word's built-in heading styles?
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/numbering/UseBuiltInHeadingStyles.html

No, you can't re-name the heading styles. But you can give them a kind of
friendly name in addition to their existing name. Click within a Heading
style paragraph. Format > Styles > Modify. The Name box will say, for
example, "Heading 1". You can add to that and name it, eg "Heading 1,
Chapter heading".

Hope this helps.

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