Unpredictable behavior in WORD multilevel numbered lists

[Singletsigma]

Dear Colleagues,

Can anyone help please? My current problem is, having created muti-level
numbered lists, I finds that, when reloading the file, the lists and
numbering have changed and the changes are not reproducible?

I am editing material for a scientific book in WORD 2007 (Vista home premium
operating system) and have each chapter in a separate DOC (2003 compatible)
file. There is the "normal" style sheet and another from the publisher which
is attached. There are four levels of headings and subheadings for each
chapter, all of which are numbered or lettered. Each of them is linked to a
"heading" style. The general form is (for chapter 4 say) 4, 4.1, 4.1.1 etc.
There are similar multilevel lists in each chapter. The "Automatic numbered
lists" is activated in WORD 2007 options.

The problem is simply that, having sorted out the multilevel list in one
chapter and stored the file, the numbering sometimes changes when the file is
reloaded. I have seen all sorts of variations: the chapter number has changed
in heading 1; the chapter number has changed in all the headings, the chapter
number has disappeared in just heading 1, or even no change (what I want!).
This is with just one chapter - if one has worked on another before loading
the first, the chapter number in the first might well have changed to that of
the second!
The most irritating thing and probably an indication of the root cause is
that often, the connection between the list level and the heading style has
been severed, and one has to make the connections all over again.

As you might guess, I have tried almost everything, including setting up
multilevel list connections in the style sheets (yet more interesting changes
in the files).
The help files simply envisage making such a list for the first time so
provide no information on the interactions between the lists, the styles and
the style sheets.

One thing I should add - I did ask this question in the "Techsupport forum"
where it was answered by an MVP, "Macropod". Although we had a useful
discussion, we could see why the behavoiur was so awkward and unpredicable.
Also I have recently tried it on Microsoft Technet, but received no responses.

If anyone could help, I would be most grateful, thank you.

Singletsigma.

 

[DeanH]

My first thought goes to your comment "file is reloaded", that is the file is
opened and then the problems occur.
In 2003 under Tools, Templates and Add-ins, on the Template tab there is a
check box for Automatically update document styles. Where this is in 2007 I
have no idea but if this is checked your styles will be reverted to the
template style which may not be what you want. I would uncheck this box
(where ever you find it in 2007, that is) to stop the update upon file open.
Hope this helps
DeanH

 

[Stefan Blom]

To display the Templates and Add-Ins dialog box in Word 2007: First display
the Developer tab of the ribbon (if you haven't already) by selecting the
relevant option in the Popular category of Office button | Word Options.
Then click the Document Template on the Developer tab.

 

[Singletsigma]

Many thanks for the prompt response. I found an "automatic update" in the
modify formatting for each of the styles. In the top three levels of
formatting the box was unchecked but level 4 was checked. Anyway I changed
this in all the chapters and in the two style sheets.

It seemed to work - but since the behaviour has been arbitrary and
intermittent, I cannot tell yet.

Also I have seen the reply from Stephen Blomberg and find that probably I am
looking at the wrong automatic update.

So I'll try that again.

One apology - I clicked the "didn't answer the question" which just took it
- there was no facility for saying it was a helpful reply, which your reply
certainly was.

 

[Singletsigma]

Many thanks for yours - I have found the box. Of course I used that to add
the additional template to each chapter and imagine that it just worked when
you added the template, not evrytime you loaded it, ad deanH appears to
imply.

Anyway, following Dean's reply I have been down another (perhaps wrong, but
perhaps efficacious) avenue (see my reply to him). I shall try his suggestion
out using the box you indicated, if the trouble reappears.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Actually, "Automatically update" in the Modify Style dialog box works in the
different direction: it transfers a modified style to the attached template,
while "Automatically update document styles" in the Templates and Add-Ins
dialog box transfers the style definition from the template to the document.
And the latter option is sticky while the former is not.

 

[Singletsigma]

Unfortunately I was too optimisitic - while the multilevel lists in several
of the chapters seem to be behaving themselves, there are new occurrences in
several of the others.

Today for example, on loading and reloading chapter 8 (~30 MB with figures)
I've seem the whole gamut of errors on different reloads - detachment of the
headings from the list, wrong chapter number in the heading (level 1); wrong
chapter number in level 2; wrong chapter number in just the first occurence
of level 2 and so on - together with correct reloading!

So I'm out of ideas, and would still appreciate advice if anyone can suggest
anything.

With many thanks

Singletsigma

 

[Stefan Blom]

If "Automatically update document styles" is cleared, there is no reason why
numbering should change as you open the file.

Have you tried recreating the numbering, starting at Level 1? In Word 2007,
you would just place the insertion point in the first level 1 paragraph
(Heading 1 since this is heading numbering), and then clicking Home tab |
Multilevel List | Define New Multilevel List. You are presented with a
dialog box similar to the Customize Outline Numbered List dialog of previous
versions, and you will probably still find (relevant parts of) the
instructions at
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html useful.