How to control the format of AutoNum 'numbers'

[Steve_Ray]

How can the default format for auto-numbers generate via AutoNum field codes
be changed -- e.g., to have just arabic numbers with no period, or to use
Roman numerals instead of arabic, etc. etc. ?

Thanks.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Use the Field dialog box to insert them. In Word 2003 (2002?) and 2007 you
can select the desired "Format" (1,2,3,...; a,b,c,... etc.).

To display the Field dialog box in Word 2003, click Insert | Field. In Word
2007, click Insert tab | Quick Parts | Field.

Note that once you have insert an AUTONUM field in a particular format, you
can use copy and paste to duplicate it.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[Stefan Blom]

Clarification: If you want to edit an existing field, the easiest way is to
press Alt+F9 to display the field code, and then modify it by specifying the
appropriate format switch. The \s switch is used to specify the separator;
and general numeric switches for the number (or rather letter) format.

General switches (from Word Help):

*****
\*alphabetic
Displays results as alphabetic characters. The result has the same case as
the word "alphabetic" in the field code. For example, { SEQ appendix \*
ALPHABETIC } displays "B" (instead of "2"), and { SEQ appendix \*
alphabetic } displays "b".


\*roman
Displays results as Roman numerals. The result has the same case as the word
"roman" in the field code. For example, { SEQ CHAPTER \* roman } displays
"xi", and { SEQ CHAPTER \* ROMAN } displays "XI".
*****

For example: "A" format followed by ";":

{ AUTONUM \* ALPHABETIC \s ";" }

Note that one way to create a default format is to save the field as an
AutoText entry, which can easily be inserted when needed.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message

 

[Steve_Ray]

Clarification: If you want to edit an existing field, the easiest way is to

press Alt+F9 to display the field code, and then modify it by specifying the
appropriate format switch.

Thanks again, I goofed by omitting the fact that I'm using WORD 97, which
lacks the field 'formatting' switches of later versions.

I haven't tried Alt-F9 to see what's available in WORD 97, but I'll check
it. There must be *some* way to alter the formatting even in that version, I
assume.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Actually, I don't think Word 97 supports general switches in AutoNum fields.
If I remember correctly, it was introduced later. (But I haven't got Word 97
to test this.) See also
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/numbering/autonumseparator.htm (it isn't clear if
the article applies to Word 97, though).

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message

 

[Steve_Ray]

<<< Actually, I don't think Word 97 supports general switches in AutoNum
fields.
If I remember correctly, it was introduced later. . . See also
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/numbering/autonumseparator.htm (it isn't clear if
the article applies to Word 97, though). >>>

Actually, as it turns out, although the Autonum format doesn't seem to be
able to be modified in WORD 97, the Autonum-Lgl (which the article you cited
recommends instead anyway) does. So problem solved.

Thanks!

 

[Stefan Blom]

I'm glad you got it to work!

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message
news:[email protected]...