template is dropping paragraph formatting

[jkeva410]

My custom template in Word includes six levels of bulleted lists. Each time I
reopen the document or start a new document with this template, several of
the styles have changed, e.g., going from a .5 left indent to no indent.

I am careful to save the template each time -- why would these styles reset?

Thanks,

jke

 

[Stefan Blom]

Generally speaking, what you have to do is set this up as an outline list
with the correct indentation for each level. If you are using Word 97--2003,
see http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/bullets/controlbullets.html for the
details. If you want more specific instructions for Word 2007, post back.

 

[jkeva410]

Hi Stefan,

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm using Word 2007 and have to say that I've
never encountered this problem before and am attributing it to the new
version.

But I'm willing to give it a try, since I need to distrubute this template
to a team of developers and it needs to be reliable.

jke

 

[gr8auntieokie]

jke, are you using the "Define New Multilevel List" tool to set up your
bullets (you can add a button for this tool to your Quick Access Toolbar),
and then linking each level of your bullet outline to its respective style?
If you are, then you should have no problems with the outline.... but linking
individual styles to each level of your outline is key.

Cyndie Browning
GableGotwals
Tulsa, OK

 

[Stefan Blom]

Actually, indentation of outline-numbered lists is problematic in several
Word versions. You may have been lucky before.

Note that the general idea of an outline-numbered list in Word 2007 remains
the same, that is, it should be style-based. It is recommended that you set
up your outline (multilevel) list as a list style: On the Home tab, click
Multilevel List, and then click Define New List Style. Type a name for your
list style. To set up number or bullet formatting, indentation, etc., click
the Format button, and then click Numbering. You will see a dialog box
similar to that of previous versions (and you may still find certain aspects
of the article at
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html useful). The
dialog box also allows you to associate a paragraph style with each level;
in fact, this is also recommended.

To apply numbering or bullet formatting to text, you can apply the list
style (for example via the Apply Styles pane), but assuming that you defined
a paragraph style for each level it would be easier to directly apply the
relevant paragraph styles.

Whenever you need to modify a list style, right-click its icon under Home
tab | Multilevel List (look under the "List Styles" heading). Alternatively,
use the Manage Styles dialog (to display it, first click Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S;
in the Styles pane, click the Manage Styles button).

 

[jkeva410]

I have never done this but am willing to give it a try. I remember when Word
and styles were so much easier.

Thanks to you and to Stefan for getting back to me with a solution.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Actually, in Word 2007 it will be safer to crete list styles. These are
certainly a lot more easy to modify, in case that should be needed later.