I'm currently working on a large document, consisting of approx 750 page of which 2/3 are drawings. The document is sub-divided into sections, in outline format.
I've been asked to add paragraph numbering under each heading. However, having setup a paragraph numbering style, formatting each paragraph, re-starting from 1 after each sub-heading. On saving and re-opening the document, I find that the complete sequence has re-sequenced over the majority of the sections. Applicable to alpha numbering as well.
I've edited the format of the individual sub-documents - the numbering is correct.
However in the master - it's screwed!!
Any suggestions?

1. Master/sub: See Master Documents "Feature" now!
2. Numbering - use the methods set forth in How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Ribbon Versions of Word by Shauna Kelly and make sure you use the same styles in all of your documents.

Make individual backups of each part of your Master document. Store those backups off-site and not on your network. The Master document feature in Word has been known to corrupt parts that are not open including backups that are locally stored.

If you are not using the MD feature, but just those terms, I apologize for sounding alarmist. If you are, though, I would urge you to cast a vote here:
https://word.uservoice.com/forums/30...cument-feature

BTW, Word can easily handle a 750-page document although it may be slow if you are doing background repagination.
Work in draft view if possible.
Use the built-in headings and the Navigation Pane for getting around in it.

If you want the numbers to restart after each 'subheading' then the subheading style should be level 1 in the outline numbering series. This will allow you to have the lower level list items automatically restart rather than having to add a local paragraph setting to do this (which will then be ignored in the master).

Outline list numbering can be made to work but I believe that you should have macros to back that up and repair things when they don't work as expected.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Thank you for your replies.
I was unable to fix the problem quickly, so I sub-divided into individual documents.
As it originated from a large historical document, their were numerous styles that weren't used. Even using developer, I could not remove them, as soon as the document was saved and opened again they returned!
I created pdfs and merged into one document which will have to make do.

Note that the styles that are built into Word can't be deleted.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

If styles are returning when you open the document then this would indicate that you have set the template to refresh the styles on open. Are those reappearing styles visible in the attached template?

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia