My styles are all messed up

[PTwriter]

Word 2007

I thought I knew what I was doing, and was following the instructions for
creating styles, but now all my styles are messed up. How do I get back to
the original definitions for Normal, Heading 1, etc.?

Here's what I was doing: I was trying to define specific headings and
paragraphs, based on the default styles but with different colors and fonts
(no, I did not directly modify Normal, Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.--I created
styles based on those styles). Then I was trying to make them numbered
headings as well, and Word quit recognizing them as headings--which meant I
could not do cross-references to them except as numbered items (not as
headings). But then the numbering for my heading 2 did not retain the font
information (size, color) of the heading text, although my heading 1 did. So
I redefined my headings as regular headings based on Heading 1, Heading 2,
etc. again. Now we're at the point that -- even in a brand new file -- Word
will not recognize any headings that I create as being headings, so I cannot
do cross-references to them.

How do I get back to something that works, and how do I keep this mess from
happening again?

Thanks.

 

[Jay Freedman]

You can get back to a factory-fresh Normal.dotm template by following
the instructions in
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/BlankDocNotBlank.htm.

Once you've done that, recreate your custom styles based on the
built-in heading levels. Then set up the numbering by using the
gallery on the MultiLevel List button (3rd button in the Paragraph
group on the Home ribbon), and choosing one of the list styles that
includes "Heading" entries.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[PTwriter]

Thanks, Jay! (a little panic is a terrible thing)

My Normal.dotm is back to Normal.dotm, and I will start from the beginning
to create a fresh personal template that does not impinge on Normal.

 

[PTwriter]

OK, now I have restored/recreated the original Normal.dotm, and am creating
my template. I create heading styles based on Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. but
using my own names. When I try to create cross-references, however, the
dialog shows only the original Heading 1, Heading 2, etc., and none of my own
customized headings. How do I get cross-references automatically to my own
headings? (I believe it worked originally before everything got messed up.)

TIA

 

[PTwriter]

p.s.--These are standard headings, not numbered ones. I thought I'd take one
step at a time. Thanks.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

In this connection, the cross-reference dialog shows only the built-in
headings, numbered items (which would include any custom heading styles that
had auto numbering), and bookmarks. If you choose not to use the built-in
heading styles and are not applying numbering to your user-defined heading
styles, then you will have to manually bookmark your headings.

It would make much more sense to use the built-in heading styles, modified
as appropriate for a given document. This is just one advantage of using the
built-in styles; see
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/UseBuiltInHeadingStyles.html

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[PTwriter]

Thanks. I was afraid that would be the answer. (I wanted to use my own names
for the headings, to make it easier on later writers for the same/similar
projects.)

 

[Jay Freedman]

If that's all you want, then define aliases for the built-in headings.
In the Quick Style display in the ribbon or in the Styles pane
(Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S), right-click a built-in style and choose Modify. In
the Name box, after the built-in name, type a comma and the alias you
want to use; change any other attributes you want, and then click OK.

For example, if you want to use Heading 1 for procedure names, modify
the Heading 1 style so its name box says

Heading 1,Procedure Name

The alias will appear in the Quick Style display.