Figure captions - how to automatically add a separator between the numbering-prefix and the text?

[Michael Moser]

Hi all,
I would like may captions to automatically add a separator - in
principle the same as when I select Insert => Reference => Caption =>
Numbering and then checking "Include chapter number" and then the "Use
separator" choice.

But why is this tied to the chapter number? Can't I just have the
separator-suffix but NO chapter number prepended?

They way I do this now, is to always manually add the " - " separator,
But if I want to globally change that separator, say to ": " instead I
would have to edit each and every caption. Shouldn't Word be able to
insert (and hopefully late also maintain) that for me automatically?

Michael

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Michael

Is this what you're trying to achieve:

Figure 1: Picture of my dog
Figure 2: Picture of the cat

If so, then you're out of luck. Word can't do that automatically.

The best solution is to create a caption without any text, ie "Figure 1: "
(without the quotes, but note the space at the end). Select the whole
paragraph and make it into an AutoText (Insert > AutoText). Give it a name
like caption. Now, when you type capt (first four letters), you'll get a
tooltip asking if you'd like to insert a caption. Press Enter to insert the
caption. Alternatively, you can put your AutoText on a toolbar button, or
attach a keyboard shortcut to it.

Hope this helps.

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