I have looked high and low for a solution to this issue - perhaps one of the word gurus that visit this forum may help.

I write documents that contain an ordered number of paragraphs. As I edit, I may move the paragraphs up/down, and I want a numeric label in the set of paragraphs to change as I move the paragraphs.

Example: I have three paragraphs as below:

Tip #1: alkflda;sdfalksdfklasfdljaslkj
lksjflaksjdflkasdflkjasldfkalksdfjlasjfdaslk
alksdjfalksdfjalksdjflaksjfklaslfdkaslfdjasl

Tip #2: alsflkkjalsjdfklajsdflkjasdfjalsjdf
askldjfaklsdjfakljsdflakjsdfklajsdflkajsdfk
aslkjflksdjfalkdalsfdjasjflaksfjalksfjaa

Tip #3: aklfjalksjdflajsakljflkjlsdjalkj
alkafalkdfjalkjdfakalsjdalkjfdalksjfdla

What I would like to do is to put a variable where the numbers are so that when Tip #3 paragraph is moved ahead of Tip #2, the field 'Tip #3' will change to 'Tip #2' and what was 'Tip #2' will become 'Tip #3.'
For small number of tips, I can obviously change the numbers manually, but a large number of tips makes doing the changes painful and mistake prone.

I call the string "Tip #n" a label, and when I search for help in word, label is something printed that you stick on an envelope - not what I want.... Basically I want to create a custom 'label' with a placeholder for the number, and have the number change based on its relation to other labels in the document. I would also need a way to specify the starting number-most of the time it will be 1, but other times it may start at another number.



Any help is appreciated - TYMV

-J

For a human-friendly explanation of Word auto-numbering, go to Shauna Kelly's web-site. Also, get to grips with styles if you haven't already done so; this may help you have numbered item 2 separated from numbered item 1 by intervening content. (I'm assuming that's why you mention starting a sequence at a number other than 1)

Here is a link to her page on numbering.

How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Word 2007 and Word 2010

See also:
Numbering in Microsoft Word

If this is single-level numbering, you can use one of the built-in numbered styles as a starting point. For example, you can start with List Number and modify it to include the word "Tip."

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

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