I have an existing list. It goes like this.

2.5.1
2.5.2
2.5.3

Hopefully you get the pattern.

I have already enabled the option in the File-Options-Proofing-AutoCorrect...- "automatic numbered lists" and "automatic bulleted lists" and all that.

BUT IT WILL NOT ENTER A NEW NUMBER WHEN I HIT ENTER!

this doesn't happen always, just in some places, in the same document.

this is an outrageous waste of my time to try for, literally, over an hour to fix this.

i can't share the file with you, so don't ask. just someone, for the love of productivity, tell me what is SO wrong with word that i have to fix.

There is nothing 'wrong' with what Word's doing, but with the way you're using it. Evidently you haven't done the basic multi-level list numbering setup correctly and/or you're overriding the Styles being used for that with hard-formatting. See:
https://support.office.com/en-au/art...4-adb8cd376474
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/wo...spx?section=11
http://shaunakelly.com/word/numberin...g20072010.html
etc.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

The first link does not work. I created a new heading under "styles" and everything. I can't create "2.6.1". It just makes it 1.1.1.1.
Yes, 4 levels in instead of 3, and you can't select the numbers. Even though I, you know, selected the numbers.

The second link is irrelevant to my problem(s), or does not work. Adjusting list indents does not cooperate when I create a new list, even if it's in a new heading style I just created. OR! It changes ALL of the items in the list, and I only want to change some of them.

The third I actually tried before exploring these links. A new paragraph style will NOT format, AT ALL. I do it, click "okay" and nothing happens, nothing changes, open "Adjust List Indents" again and, lo and behold, it's where it was before I changed it. Brand new paragraph style.

Microsoft has failed. It cannot make listing simple. I should be able to pick a number and run with it. I encourage everyone to pirate their software, and then never use it.

oh by the way...

creating a new list in a new place in a new "style" gets me this:
paragraph 2.6.1. yay, right? hit enter? 2.6.1
ENTER
2.6.1
ENTER
2.6.1
ENTER
2.6.1

Run the gamut of the too-high-in-number, overly complicated ways to change the formatting and everything... Nothing fixes this problem either.

Strike five, or six, whatever we're up to now.

I want my work's ~$200 back.

You have obviously missed something. If you do not follow the instructions, of course they will not work. It does take a little more time to grasp all of the instructions but, if you can invest that time to learn you will benefit 100 times over in future works.

Here's how to save tons and tons of time- get me a program that's simple to use, not needlessly complicated. If I get a document formatted from someone else, it shouldn't matter. I should be able to create any kind of list I want, regardless of whatever else is around, with a simple option.

How about "create list" or something?
Then you could tell it where to start numbering, and it would just, you know, start numbering? No warnings and error messages and nonsense about previous lists and their locations and things I don't care about. Just start at 2.6.1, and then start auto-numbering to 2.6.2, 2.6.3... Have a little checkbox option you could undo if for some reason you didn't want it to autonumber. It really could be that simple.

But it's not.

You see that MS? Are you listening out there? Hire me as a consultant, I just gave you a freebie how to fix your broken, ridiculous program. You won't do it, though, I'm sure.

This is why SO many people hate MS Word. People who use it all day, every day, all the time. Ask around, do a survey. I haven't once heard anyone give it a glowing review. Most people roll their eyes, growl, and express their hatred of the program. From engineers to editors and authors, it's all I ever hear. There is a reason for this. I've used 3D CAD programs- created by French companies!- less needlessly complicated than, what is really nothing more than a glorified typewriter, for God's sake.

If anyone from that embarrassment of a company is listening, don't think you'll have the market cornered forever. Fix. Your. Problems.

And by the way, if I've missed something, you can hardly blame me. It must be buried to the point of absurdity. I've searched around, I've googled for literally hours, I've tried the above administrator's links, I've been all over MS's own website, and others, I've manually gone through everything click-able in Word itself.

There is no excuse for this level of complication in a word processing program. Even if my problem is solvable, which I'm pretty sure is not the case.

Well, I thought you wanted help. If all you are wanting to do is complain....I will remove myself from this thread...

#dontwastemytime

hash-tag don't waste my time indeed. if only.

at first i wanted help. i have since determined that there is no helping with the document i have.

if i'm wrong, and you have something different than ALLLL the links and suggestions and whatever already posted up, i'll look.

Give me something to work with!! Upload a "representative" file without any data...JUST THE NUMBERING format you are using. I will have a look.

if i could duplicate the problem, i would.

You are the time-waster here. If you can't be bothered following a few instructions (all the links are valid and applicable). Then don't bother posting at all. You clearly want to whinge rather than resolve anything.

BTW, as clearly stated on every page on this forum "MSOfficeForums.com is not affiliated with Microsoft", so your spleen-venting is just more evidence you don't pay attention... Your problems are not with MS Word - they are firmly located between the seat & keyboard.

Thread closed.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]