Help w MVP article "How to safely update styles from template..."

[Barbara]

I am trying to follow the helpful instructions on automatically updating
document styles from the template (at
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/macrosvba/UpdateStyles.htm). But I am getting stuck
at "Gotcha" #1:
"For it to be reliable, your numbering styles must use named List Templates.
See the links at How to cure Word's List Numbering with a dose of VBA for
more details."

This link leads to a page named "How to restart style-based numbering," and
I cannot find any link on that page about named List Templates. Since I am
using "outline-numbered" styles for my template's bullet styles, I think I
need to sort out this part about naming my List Template before I continue
any further.

How do I get my styles to use named List Templates?

Thanks!

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

Hi Barbara

I am trying to follow the helpful instructions on automatically updating
document styles from the template (at
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/macrosvba/UpdateStyles.htm). But I am getting stuck
at "Gotcha" #1:
"For it to be reliable, your numbering styles must use named List Templates.
See the links at How to cure Word's List Numbering with a dose of VBA for
more details."

This link leads to a page named "How to restart style-based numbering," and
I cannot find any link on that page about named List Templates. Since I am
using "outline-numbered" styles for my template's bullet styles, I think I
need to sort out this part about naming my List Template before I continue
any further.

How do I get my styles to use named List Templates?

this should do the trick:

See the section on "Numbering, bullets, Headings, Outlines" (by Shauna
Kelly)
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/

HTH
Robert

 

[Barbara]

Thanks for the info, Robert. I think I understand what's needed here. And I
think I have done it. But just to make sure:

When the article "How to safely update a document's styles from its
template..." says, "your numbering styles must use named List Templates," it
means, "your numbered items must use styles that include the numbering scheme
as part of the style definition."

When the article says, "See the links at 'How to cure Word's List Numbering
with a dose of VBA' for more details," it means, "See the link 'How to create
numbered headings or outline numbering in your Microsoft Word document' in
'How to restart style-based numbering' for more details."

The part that was especially confusing to me was the instruction to "use
named List Templates" in my styles. I assumed this meant that I had to find
something or another in the user interface about a List Template, and that I
had to give this thing a name. As I am sure you know, Word's list templates
are pretty well hidden from view, and user-assigned names are not really an
option.

If I understand this correctly, I would suggest something like the following
rewrite to Gotcha #1 in the MVP article:

For the updating to be reliable, your numbered and bulleted items must be
formatted from styles that include the numbering scheme as part of the style
definition. See Shauna Kelly's 'How to create numbered headings or outline
numbering in your Microsoft Word document'
<http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html> and 'How to
control bullets in Microsoft Word'
<http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/bullets/controlbullets.html> for details.

Again, thanks for your help!

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Barbara

The user interface largely hides list templates from view. However, if
all goes well (and it often doesn't), in the Customize Outline Numbered
List dialog, the box labelled "ListNum field list name" is the list
template's name. You have to click the "More" button in the dialog to be
able to see this box. You can type a name for your list template in that
"List Num field list name" box. I generally use a boring name like
"Bullets" or "Headings".

Occasionally, Word will tell you that the name you chose is already in
use even though you're sure it is not. Sometimes you'll end up just
having to give it a new name.

Hope this helps.

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