Word 2007 changes Outline Level automatically

[esenger]

What's happening:
When I save my document with the Document Map open, close it, and then
re-open it, it automatically randomly assigns Level 1 to my paragraphs.

Workaround: If I fix the outline level, close the document map, and then
save the document, it doesn't reassign the outline level when I re-open the
document.

I write manuals for a living, and this is a major annoyance. I'm working
with 200-300 page documents, and the Document Map is essential to navigating
through the document as I'm writing. Having to fix this each time I forget
and close the document with the document map open has gotten very
aggravating. Is there something I can do to permanently fix this?

I've tried reformatting paragraphs, recreating the TOC, clearing direct
formatting(everything is style-based), and there is something about certain
paragraphs that just won't be cleared so that the Document Map doesnt' pick
it up.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See http://word.mvps.org/faqs/general/DocumentMap.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[esenger]

Thanks for the tip, but I had already read this article, and the Outline view
doesn't help me. Is there a reason that this bug can't be fixed, or that we
can't be given the option of turning off the automatic reformatting? Since
it happens randomly to paragraphs with the exact same style, I keep thinking
there's something I can do to fix it.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Have you already disabled "Define styles based on your formatting" and
"Automatic headings"?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[esenger]

Yep...I turned off all the auto format stuff.

Have you already disabled "Define styles based on your formatting" and
"Automatic headings"?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Steve-BV]

I am having the exact same issue. (Working on a large manual and having
Outline Level 1 added to some paragraphs.) I'm glad to see it is not just
me. I knew there was a problem with document map in Word 2002 but I thought
it was fixed in 2007.

After playing with different scenarios, this seems to be happening not
necessarily due to saving the document with Document Map on. Regardless
whether Document Map was open when I saved the file, Outline Level 1 gets
randomly added whenever Document Map is on when I open the file. The problem
occurs if I turn on document map berfore opening my file. It can also happen
when Word starts up with Document Map on due to Word remembering that it was
on last time I closed down Word.
Like esenger, I like using Document Map for large complex documents.
Hopefully someone has a good fix or explanation for this. Otherwise, I am
going to avoid using that feature. What a shame.

 

[Steve-BV]

I just found another discussion on this issue. No solutions but lots of
examples and advice on how to avoid the document map problem.
http://www.bitwisemag.com/2/Microsoft-Word-Expletive-Deleted