Hi,

- I have a Word file, with a lot of similar tables. The tables are essentially the same with the same headers and number of columns.

- For instance, let's assume that one of the cells in the table has a content description (It's really an issue, described elaborately in at least a long sentence). The issues are different, across rows and tables and so this content changes across tables.

- The requirement is to number this cell, to list out the issues (maybe in a custom TOC), so that all the issues are listed and linked to. Note: Each issue should be linked to a unique number, which shouldn't change.

I have tried creating a new style to apply to this cell (which is linked to a multilevel list so that it increments sequentially), so that whenever a new issue is created, users can apply the style to this particular cell. In the end, just generate the custom TOC with just this style to get the list of issues.

The problem here is that, when a user adds a new row/issue (in an existing or a new-similar table in the middle of the document), the numbering changes. and the following issues are then assigned n+1 numbers respectively. This is not expected and each issue, once assigned a number, should retain it irrelevant of row addition/deletion.



Is this possible in Word?

Yes. It is possible.
Create a two-row table.
Apply your style to a cell in the first (header) row of the table, but not in the second row.
Save your table as a quick table. This is a type of building block.

To insert a new one, insert it from quick tables. If you assign a unique name to your quick table you can use that name and F3 to insert the table rather than going through the menus in Word 2013 and later. (I usually start my building block names with an underscore _ so they show up at the top of menus.)
Where can Building Blocks be stored?

The behavior of Word in tables is when a new row is added, it uses the formatting of the row above it.

If normally the lower rows use numbering at a lower level of the multilevel list, you could apply that style to your second row.

I noted that you said your numbers should not change. This is not how automatic numbering works in Word. If something numbered is added or deleted before your entry, the numbering will change. That is part of the meaning of "automatic."