Caption re-autonumbering list levels I manually changed

[bigmyk2k]

I want all of my a captions to reflect the list level that they fall under.
That is, if I put a table under heading 3 (i.e.- 2.3.1), I want it to be table "heading number.1" (i.e.- 2.3.1.1)
Same for Exhibits.
However, any time I insert a new caption, it changes every caption that uses a similar field code to the most recent list level used.
Even the ones I have gone through the process of Highlight number --> "Toggle Field Codes" --> [change to desired list level] --> "Update Field"
That is a tedious process, especially when Word thinks it is so damn smart and goes and undoes all 10 that I JUST FRICKING CHANGED as soon as I insert another caption.
So, how do I stop this from happening?



I should state that I'm using Word 2016, but I've had this issue in 2007, 2010, and 2013 as well. I get irritated enough to try and find an answer about 1-2x per year. Just haven't yet.

[Charles Kenyon]

See How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Ribbon Versions of Word by Shauna Kelly and How to number headings and figures in Appendixes in Microsoft Word by Shauna Kelly.

Insert a Caption - Complex Documents

[bigmyk2k]

Yep. Already do all of those things- which is what is really leading to the issue.
I have inserted captions (i.e. caption for Table), and in so doing, "Include Chapter Number".
Generally, I start at "Heading 2". However, if the table it under Heading 3, I need it to include that heading as the chapter.
However, if I insert a new Table caption with Heading 3, it will change ALL Table captions to include numbering for Heading 3.
I don't want this. This is problematic for a number of reasons. First, I just plain want it to include the Chapter/Heading for the list level for the text that refers to the information in the Table that this caption is for. Sometimes this is Heading 2, sometimes Heading 3, sometimes, Heading 4, etc. All within one single document.
Second, there are often times where- if I accidentally set it so that all are Heading 3, it will search back in the text for the last incidence of Heading 3. Whether this is 2 sentences or 2 chapters prior to that point. So, I may end up with "Table 3.2.1" which falls in, and is referenced in, Section 5.3.
This is a problem. This problem isn't solved by defining list styles (though, discovering how to do that was very helpful 7 years ago).

[Stefan Blom]

In Word, you can only include a specific heading level for all captions of the same type.