I need to list figures and tables in a document, in most cases there is a single numbered figure (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, etc.) for a specific item, but in a few cases, there are multiples that will have a letter appended (Figure 4A, Figure 4B).

I'm trying to use a multilevel list numbering system, but the multilevel list assumes an outline view. When I set Figure 4 to the second level, instead of 'Figure 4A', it becomes 'Figure 3A'. I need it to start the next number, not be a subset of the previous number, and have all following items with the same level use that number.

Is there a way to achieve the following within a list?

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3


Figure 4A
Figure 4B
Figure 5
etc.

I tried everything I could think of, but no luck.

I'm assuming what I want isn't possible, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'm interested in hearing it.

Caption numbers are simply SEQ fields and all fields have option switches which enable what you are trying to do. Where you need the A, B you will need a second field with a new sequence name.

Firstly put all the captions in normally. Each number will be a field with the following field code {Seq Figure}. You can see and edit the field code by selecting the figure number, right clicking and choosing Toggle Field Codes. Edit that text and then select and press F9 to refresh the field.

Each of these fields may also have a mergeformat switchbut that isn't necessary so I'll ignore those for the following explanation.

With a caption number that needs the letter A, you need to add a second field so the field codes are as follows
{Seq Figure}{Seq FigureLetter \* ALPHABETIC}

On the following caption you repeat this but add a switch to the first field so it repeats the previous number
{Seq Figure \c}{Seq FigureLetter \* ALPHABETIC}

Later if you need to restart another FigureLetter at A, you add switches to the fields like this
{Seq Figure}{Seq FigureLetter \r 1 \* ALPHABETIC}
{Seq Figure \c}{Seq FigureLetter \* ALPHABETIC}
{Seq Figure \c}{Seq FigureLetter \* ALPHABETIC}

Note that the seq field name you choose only has to be unique - 'FigureLetter' could have been any word other than Figure (although I wouldn't advise using 'Table' because that would likely be used elsewhere)

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Thanks, I’ll take a look at that.

I wasn’t as explicit in my list (sorry), it won’t just be the figure numbers, the real use case will look more like this:

Figure 1: Description of first figure.
Figure 2: Description of second figure.
Figure 3A: Description of third figure, item A.
Figure 3B: Description of third figure, item B.


Not sure if your example works in this case, but I’ll take a look whee we n I’m back on the computer next week. If I understand what you’re saying, I’m assuming that instead of using a list (which would take care of all numbering and the prefix), I would add field codes manually where needed, something like this pseudocode:


Figure [seq number field]: Description of figure.
Figure [seq number field][seq letter field]: Description of figure.

There are also places where the figure is referenced (i.e. “…for further information, see Figure X”). That was simple to do, as I could add a cross reference to that item in the numbered list. Is the same doable using the sequence field codes?

Captions are normally seq fields, not numbered lists. You can cross refer to figures in the same way you cross refer to numbered lists.

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia