Hi there,



I am having issues with the labelling of tables and figures in the same document. Although it is allowing me to differentiate between the two when I label, it is changing my whole document to be either tables or figures. If I label a table, then label a figure, it changes my table to a figure as well, and vice versa, it wont allow me to have both.....

Any ideas?

Many thanks

You can define your tables or figures using the "Caption" dialog box. From the REFERENCE ribbon at the center, click on "Insert Caption" to get the menu. From the Options section select the label desired (Figure, Table or Equation). Define the caption numbering to your specifications.

Hope this helps...

Thank you for your reply JimP. However, this is what I have been doing. The 'Caption' dialogue box will not allow me to edit what is already in the box. Defining the desired label does work, but it subsequently changes all the previously defined figures or tables to the latest selection. The numbering is not the issue, the number is correct, it is the label. I have both graphs and tables, and obviously need them labelled differently.

If it is the label and you do now need what is already defined, you can specify your label definitions using the "New Label" tab.

Ooops! I did not address where it "changes all the previously defined figures or tables to the latest selection" and, I am not sure I can answer that without seeing some portion of the document itself. Can you attach some portion of the document (removing any sensitive data) with the problematic issue for us to look at? It would be helpful.

Thank you JimP. I have just tried what you suggested, but it also overrides what is already defined.
Could it be a corrupt file maybe?

I would think it is something simple but, it would be nice to see the problem before I would characterize it as a corrupt file. Other forum subject matter experts here may offer a solution that I have not been able to do. In the interim, as time permits I will look deeper.

Note that if you select an existing table caption and try to change it into a figure caption, then Word tries to be helpful and wants to "convert" all tables into figures.

Instead, if you are replacing one with the other, delete the existing caption first and then insert a new one.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thank you for your reply Stefan Blom. However, the 'Caption' dialogue box wont allow me to delete of change what is already written. I have also tried creating a new label, but this still overrides previously defined tables/figures. It is only allowing me to have either tables or figures, not both.

You are right that you can't do any editing from within the Caption dialog box. You will have to do it directly in the document. For example, if you want to delete the third table caption, select it (in the body of the document) and press Delete. If the caption is inside a text box, select the whole text box and delete it.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

How will this effect table of figures/tables, where you are able to click on the list to take you directly to the corresponding figure/table?
Also, that means that the numbering will be consecutive, rather than Table 1, Table 2, Figure 1, Figure 2...etc.

Assuming that you haven't saved and closed the document, you can use Undo (Ctrl+Z), possibly repeatedly, to "restore" lost captions. In the future, remember to not select an existing caption before opening the Caption dialog box.

To update a table of figures or table of tables: Click in the table, press F9; if prompted, choose to update the whole table.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Hi Gekkofuel,

Please don't post the same question in multiple locations. Doing so can result in wasted effort and people working a cross-purposes. I've now merged the threads.

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