I created a template a while back with a complex multi-level outline style. Multiple people in the office use the template, and though it once worked perfectly, and we never had trouble with the format, suddenly the documents that are using the template refuse to maintain the "Start At" number and revert back to 1 (i.e.: instead of 34.1.1, they revert back to 1.1.1) when the document is saved, closed, and reopened. I have tried re-attaching the template, and then setting the "Start At" number in the Modify Style menu, but it continues to revert back to 1 every time. I imagine someone along the way messed with the template, but I without starting over again and recreating it from scratch, I'm wondering if anyone knows why this is happening? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

For a multilevel list, you must specify these settings in the multilevel list dialog box. Place the insertion point in the first level 1 item of your list (which means the first Heading 1 paragraph of the document if you are using heading numbering), click Home tab | Multilevel List | Define New Multilevel List (yes, the command is misleading). Make the desired changes.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks, Stefan. I understand how to set that number. The problem is that it keeps resetting to 1 when the document is saved, closed, and reopened. For instance, I will set the starting number to 15, and when I reopen the document, it goes back to 1, and has to be reset to 15 again. I am looking to find out what in my template is causing this to happen, without having to recreate the template.

Do you have the document set to update styles from its template? Turn that setting off as follows: In the Templates and Add-Ins dialog box, clear the "Automatically update styles" option. Any subsequent changes made to styles/numbering options should now be preserved.

To display the dialog box: First show the Developer tab by selecting it at File tab | Options | Customize the Ribbon. On the Developer tab, click Document Template.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thank you, Stefan. This did the trick!

I'm glad you got it sorted!

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional