Outline numbering not always creating new number

[Mike]

Have a somewhat intermitent problem with a user's outline numbering (Word
2002). One of the list gallery options will not create a new number on
enter (not a blank line - a line with text), unless you press enter before
the end of the line (eg, add an extra letter and press enter before that).
Not all of the list gallery options do this immediately, but they will
eventually stop working correctly. Is there a setting for this somewhere?
And why would this stop working at random on some outline lists? I could
try resetting each item in his list gallery, but if there is something else
going on here the problem will only come back.

TIA,

Mike

 

[Margaret Aldis]

One possible answer could be that you are using an outline numbering scheme
that is linked to a style, and the style is defined with a different style
to follow on afterwards. For example, Headings are usually defined so that
pressing Enter gives you Normal or Body Text style for the next paragraph -
the Heading may be numbered, but the following paragraph will not be.

However, applying numbering from the Bullets and Numbering dialog (List
Gallery) is risky business. In 2002 even cancelling out of that dialog
creates an extra List Template in the document. Direct formatting numbering
has a tendency to disappear or change format when opened elsewhere, too.

Best advice is to use paragraph styles to apply numbering. See Shauna
Kelly's instructions for setting this up safely:

http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html

 

[Mike]

The odd thing isn't that the numbering is changing - that I'd understand.
It's that the behavior of the Enter key is changing. I'm thinking it's
related to the way the styles are linked (as you mentioned) - but why is it
that it works correctly at one point, but than after awhile it stops?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Hi Mike

You might get more clues by looking at the styles and also where the
numbering is coming from on the paragraphs in question - Reveal formatting
sometimes helps, as does resetting paragraphs to style. You might also check
the Undo list immediately after the numbering disappears, just in case it's
the secret AutoFormat that removes numbering on a double enter (perhaps the
user has a sticky Enter key - or sticky fingers <g>).

Beyond that, I can only reiterate that direct number formatting is very
iffy, and if the user is popping back to the B&N dialog to apply or restart
numbering, or even to check what is going on, goodness knows what numbering
schemes may get invoked, when and why ;-)