Numbering button vs. Defined style

[Guest]

Everywhere I read about creating lists in Word, it says that I should never
use the Numbering button on the Tool Bar, but instead define a style with a
numbering scheme. I have been trying out different things, and there is one
thing that puzzles me (I hope you can follow me here):

I create a new document and write this:

---
List 1 Item 1
List 1 Item 2
List 1 Item 3

List 2 Item 1
List 2 Item 2
List 2 Item 3
---

Senario 1) I define my own style and choose a numbering scheme, and I then
apply the style to each of the two lists (leaving the empty paragraph styled
as Normal). Result: As expected, the numbering continues on the second list,
so I end up with list number 1 through 6 with a blank line in the middle.

Senario 2) I mark the three lines in List 1 and click the Numbering button
on the Tool Bar. I then do the same with List 2. Result: Same as in Senario
1.

Senario 3) I add some text to the empty paragraph between the to lists and
repeat Senario 1. Result: Same as in Senario 1.

Senario 4) I add some text to the empty paragraph between the to lists and
repeat Senario 2. Result: Now the numbering restarts on list 2.


In Senario 1, 2 and 3 I can right-click on the first line of List 2 and
choose Restart Numbering, but in Senario 1 and 2 the six list items will
still belong to the same list. This isn't the case in Senario 3 (nor Senario
4). I can see this by setting the cursor in the beginning of "List 2 Item 2"
and typing [Ctrl + Left Arrow]. For Senario 1 and 2 this will select all
list numbers except "List 2 Item 1" to which the renumbering was applied.
For Senario 3 and 4 only the three items in List 2 will be selected.

I don't quite know the purpose of the ability to mark all list numbers by
typing [Ctrl + Left Arrow], but doing so apparently reveals which list items
throughout the document that belong to the same list.

The above senarios tells me, that there are something "extra" going on when
I create lists by using the Numbering button, and now I am wondering if
there are any settings that I can apply to a style definition that will make
all my lists seperate lists instead of one big list with several restarts
taking place.

If you are still with me: Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

[Guest]

I forgot to mention that I am using Word 2003 (English) on Windows XP
Professional (English).

 

[Word Heretic]

G'day <[email protected]>,

I describe Word's lists extensively in my word spellbook on sale from
www.WordHeretic.com

Apply the style to all six lines

Go to the Line 4 that should be Line 1

Right-click, select Restart Numbering.



Steve Hudson
Word Heretic Sydney Australia
Tricky stuff with Word or words

Email: WordHeretic at tpg.com.au

 

[Guest]

Oh -- I am even confusing myself here...

This paragraph:

In Senario 1, 2 and 3 I can right-click on the first line of List 2 and
choose Restart Numbering, but in Senario 1 and 2 the six list items will
still belong to the same list. This isn't the case in Senario 3 (nor Senario
4). I can see this by setting the cursor in the beginning of "List 2 Item 2"
and typing [Ctrl + Left Arrow]. For Senario 1 and 2 this will select all
list numbers except "List 2 Item 1" to which the renumbering was applied.
For Senario 3 and 4 only the three items in List 2 will be selected.


Should read:

In Senario 1, 2 and 3 I can right-click on the first line of List 2 and
choose Restart Numbering, but in Senario 1 and 3 the six list items will
still belong to the same list. This isn't the case in Senario 2 (nor Senario
4). I can see this by setting the cursor in the beginning of "List 2 Item 2"
and typing [Ctrl + Left Arrow]. For Senario 1 and 3 this will select all
list numbers except "List 2 Item 1" to which the renumbering was applied.
For Senario 2 and 4 only the three items in List 2 will be selected.



The end result is still that using the Numbering button makes the two lists
seperate lists, and using a defined style makes the two lists parts of the
same list, even if the numbering is restarted as described.

 

[Guest]

Apply the style to all six lines

Go to the Line 4 that should be Line 1

Right-click, select Restart Numbering.

This is the procedure I describe in my Senario 1 and 3, and the result is
that although the numbering is restarted, all six lines still belong to the
same list. This doesn't seem to be the case in my Senario 2 and 4 where I
use the Numbering button.

 

[Word Heretic]

G'day <[email protected]>,

If I still six lines with body text - all lines appear to the same
style. Thus it is the same with a style called List Number. The list
controls the format, or appearance, of the list. Thus all your
separate list paras are all part of one big consistently presented
list, just it has restarts in it. This is the way that Word works,
like it or not, think it's sane or not.


Steve Hudson
Word Heretic Sydney Australia
Tricky stuff with Word or words

Email: WordHeretic at tpg.com.au

 

[Guest]

If I still six lines with body text - all lines appear to the same
style. Thus it is the same with a style called List Number. The list
controls the format, or appearance, of the list. Thus all your
separate list paras are all part of one big consistently presented
list, just it has restarts in it. This is the way that Word works,
like it or not, think it's sane or not.

Yes, if I apply the list formating by using a style, it will be one big list
with restarts in it, but as I wrote in my initial post, it seems to me like
this is not the case, if I apply the list formating using the Numbering
button on the tool bar.

I can see this by setting the cursor on list item two in the second list and
then typing [Ctrl] + [Left Arrow]. If I have used the Numbering button, only
the list numbers in the second list will be selected, but if I have used a
style, the list numbers in both lists will be selected, except the first
list item in the second list where the renumbering has been manually
applied.

Why this difference?

 

[Word Heretic]

G'day <[email protected]>,

Hmmm, to tell you the truth I wasn't expecting that behavior BUT there
is stuff hard-coded into that function I know I am not aware of, so
there's a fair chance they always stamp a new listtemplate in. This is
a nice way around Word's infamous loss of restarts at the expense of
consistency.


Steve Hudson
Word Heretic Sydney Australia
Tricky stuff with Word or words

Email: WordHeretic at tpg.com.au

If I still six lines with body text - all lines appear to the same
style. Thus it is the same with a style called List Number. The list
controls the format, or appearance, of the list. Thus all your
separate list paras are all part of one big consistently presented
list, just it has restarts in it. This is the way that Word works,
like it or not, think it's sane or not.

Yes, if I apply the list formating by using a style, it will be one big list
with restarts in it, but as I wrote in my initial post, it seems to me like
this is not the case, if I apply the list formating using the Numbering
button on the tool bar.

I can see this by setting the cursor on list item two in the second list and
then typing [Ctrl] + [Left Arrow]. If I have used the Numbering button, only
the list numbers in the second list will be selected, but if I have used a
style, the list numbers in both lists will be selected, except the first
list item in the second list where the renumbering has been manually
applied.

Why this difference?