Outline numbering out of sequence

[Mark Glasser]

Thanks to ShaunaKelly.com for the article on outline
numbering. Light bulbs went on.

However, I'm getting some strange results. I have
defined 4 heading styles that make use of outline
numbering, ostensibly as follows:

1. Heading 1 style
1.1 Heading 2 style
1.1.1 Heading 3 style
1.1.1.1 Heading 4 style

The numbering seems to be ok Heading 1 and 2, but is
incorrect for Heading 3 if I have multiple Heading 1
paragraphs. For example, I get:

1. Heading 1 style
1.1 Heading 2 style
1.2 Heading 2 style
2. Heading 1 style
2.1 Heading 2 style
1.2.1 Heading 3 style
1.2.2 Heading 3 style

The last two headings should be numbered 2.1.1 and 2.1.2,
but the first two numbers are getting transposed. In
fact, with multiple Heading 1 styles in my document, it
looks like my Heading 3 style is picking up numbering
from the Heading 2 style in the previous Heading 1
section. (Man, I hope that made sense.)

I've double checked my level links, and they "look"
correct, at least according to the literature I have read.

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

--Mark

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I'm not sure how it happens, but sometimes the numbers get swapped around,
which is what's happened here: the 1.2.1, 1.2.2 numbers are really 2.1.1 and
2.1.2, but the first two levels are reversed. The only way I've found to fix
this (other than starting from scratch) is to delete all the content of the
"Number format" box for Level 3 and insert the punctuation and "Previous
level" manually, being careful to insert each number in its proper order. It
might be easier to see what you're doing if you temporarily changed the
"Number style" for each level (say ABC for Level 1, i, ii, iii for Level 2
and so on, so that you could be sure you're getting the numbers in the right
order. You can change the number style back when you get the numbering set
up properly.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Bruce Brown]

Another way to do this is to go to the Outline Numbered Tab of the
List Gallery and reset the third window from the left on the top row.
That snaps the settings back to Word's defaults for legal numbering,
which are presumably 100% accurate. Then click Customize to go in and
re-link the Heading styles if nec.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

That's what I meant by "starting from scratch." <g>

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Paul E]

Suzanne... I LIKE the idea of switching the numbering style/format. I have
screwed up the 1.1.1.1. sequence myself at times and had to start over when
finding I had moved each one around in the box by moving my cursor around in
the box as I set the levels... next time (and I KNOW there will be a next
time) I will try that trick!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I like the idea, too. I wish I had thought of it before when I was helping
someone else with a similar problem. It really is impossible to distinguish
a Level 1 1 from a Level 2 1 from a Level 3 1, but 1 vs. A vs. i would be a
snap. I'm glad it was helpful to you.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.