removing listnum field names

[Adrian]

Hi,

I want to remove the names I gave to some outline numbering list templates
(as entered in the "ListNum field list name" field in the Customize dialog
box). It seems that to do this I need to open the list templates concerned.
However, the Bullets and Numbering dialog box only shows the last seven
templates that a user dabbles with and the names I am looking for are not
connected to any of them. How do I access templates used earlier?

I know these names are still stored because a) they appear in the list of
possible LISTNUM fields when I try to insert a LISTNUM field and b) I am
unable to assign some names to new list templates because "the name is
already in use..."

Thanks,

Adrian

 

[Margaret Aldis]

I think that if you enter one of those LISTNUM fields and select it (or
apply a style linked to that List Template), then when you use Format >
Bullets and Numbering you will find the appropriate List Template
highlighted, and will be able to Reset or Customize.

But beware if you are not totally up to date on versions/updates, because at
one time there was a bug that reliably crashed word when you went to Bullets
and Numbering with a LISTNUM selected!

Otherwise you could paste into a fresh document shell, or you could clean
out the names programmatically.

 

[Adrian]

Thanks Margaret,

It doesn't quite work as you suggest. Please see my comments below...

I think that if you enter one of those LISTNUM fields and select it (or
apply a style linked to that List Template), then when you use Format >
Bullets and Numbering you will find the appropriate List Template
highlighted,

Up to here it works as you say.

and will be able to Reset or Customize.

If I choose Customize, the Listnum field list name control is grayed out. I
cannot remove the listnum field I set there.
If I choose Reset, the list template setttings get replaced with what they
were originally, but the Listnum field list name is not removed.

But beware if you are not totally up to date on versions/updates, because
at one time there was a bug that reliably crashed word when you went to
Bullets and Numbering with a LISTNUM selected!

Otherwise you could paste into a fresh document shell, or you could clean
out the names programmatically.

I'm not sure how I can "paste into a fresh document shell" as I am actually
creating a template and need to retain all the styles. I am loathed to use
the Organizer as it never works properly. Maybe I could copy each style from
my doc to a new doc?

Alternatively, if anybody could tell me the code for tidying this up, that
would be great. I imagine it would have to remove the offending names from
all list templates before deleting them.

Thanks,

Adrian

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Hi Adrian

I *think* Word greys out the listnum name when it thinks that list template
is in use for a field. It could well be that if it has ever been in use in a
document that it remains greyed out. Or it could reflect a document
corruption - I have certainly had that happen in documents that only use
paragraph numbering, and it was associated with zombie list templates that
did not appear as part of the LT collection (or at least, didn't match on
name) but then the name was declared to be in use when I tried to create a
new one via VBA.

Since you can never actually delete list templates from a document, my
advice would be to start from a fresh document, newly made from either a
known good previous version of the template or from a nice clean Normal.dot.

It's probably worth the effort of recreating the styles - or at least any
numbered ones - to be confident of a clean start, but if you want to have a
go at saving effort here are a few ideas:

* Organizer should work even for numbered styles if you do the copy 3 times.
If it doesn't work for the bullet/number styles, consider them corrupt and
copy everything else and recreate those.

* Alternatively, strip your old template down to the styles you want, attach
your new fresh document to the template, and update styles from the
template. Then save as a template to break the connection. Again, this may
fail on numbered styles if they aren't set up correctly.

* Third option - prepare dummy text for each style you use in a document
made from the old template. Be sure to strip out any LISTNUM fields. Copy
and paste into new document.

You'll also need to set up your page layout again.

Hope this helps

 

[Adrian]

Thanks for the suggestions Margaret!

Adrian

Hi Adrian

I *think* Word greys out the listnum name when it thinks that list
template is in use for a field. It could well be that if it has ever been
in use in a document that it remains greyed out. Or it could reflect a
document corruption - I have certainly had that happen in documents that
only use paragraph numbering, and it was associated with zombie list
templates that did not appear as part of the LT collection (or at least,
didn't match on name) but then the name was declared to be in use when I
tried to create a new one via VBA.

Since you can never actually delete list templates from a document, my
advice would be to start from a fresh document, newly made from either a
known good previous version of the template or from a nice clean
Normal.dot.

It's probably worth the effort of recreating the styles - or at least any
numbered ones - to be confident of a clean start, but if you want to have
a go at saving effort here are a few ideas:

* Organizer should work even for numbered styles if you do the copy 3
times. If it doesn't work for the bullet/number styles, consider them
corrupt and copy everything else and recreate those.

* Alternatively, strip your old template down to the styles you want,
attach your new fresh document to the template, and update styles from the
template. Then save as a template to break the connection. Again, this may
fail on numbered styles if they aren't set up correctly.

* Third option - prepare dummy text for each style you use in a document
made from the old template. Be sure to strip out any LISTNUM fields. Copy
and paste into new document.

You'll also need to set up your page layout again.

Hope this helps