Hi,



This has been bugging me. I have numberings configured in my heading styles. Heading 1 is numbered with capital letters, heading 2 with Arabic numerals, heading 3 with Roman numerals and heading 4 with small letters.

A) Heading 1

1) Heading 2

i) Heading 3

a) Heading 4

It's heading 4 that gives me trouble. When I have a heading 4 heading which comes after a new heading 3 heading, I would like for the numbering to reset. Like this

A) Heading 1

1) Heading 2

i) Heading 3

a) Heading 4
b) Heading 4
c) Heading 4

ii) Heading 3

a) Heading 4
b) Heading 4
c) Heading 4

Word's default behavior is this:

A) Heading 1

1) Heading 2

i) Heading 3

a) Heading 4
b) Heading 4
c) Heading 4

ii) Heading 3

d) Heading 4
e) Heading 4
f) Heading 4


I have to right click on the numbering, and select "restart numbering" manually. The problem is that for heading 4, I configured an indent for it, and no hanging indent. When the numbering is restarted, Word ignores the heading 4 style indent settings, and adds a hanging indent.

I see 2 possible approaches to overcome this.


1) To configure the numbering within the heading 4 style to restart automatically when it follows after a higher level style so I don't have to restart manually and trigger the hanging indent override. It's strange that the numbering restarts automatically for headings 2 and 3 without any problems (configured with the Roman and Arabic numberings), but not heading 4.

or

2) To directly prevent word from overriding my hanging indent settings when I restart the numbering.

Does anyone have any idea how to do either?

I don't like having a hanging indent as it seems to screw up my TOC. Apparently, Word confuses the tab mark for the hanging indent with the tab mark for aligning the page numbers to the right.

Thanks,
Jay

Did you create the numbering configuration by first using the Multilevel List dropdown and choosing Define New Multilevel List?

Hi Kimberly,

I apply the numbering by configuring the numbering options for that particular style. So the numbering is applied whenever I apply that heading style. I do not use the multilevel numbering list.

Thanks,
Jay

Attached Images

Capture.PNG (111.2 KB, 26 views)

That is the issue. Modifying the heading style allows you to create a single-level list. You need a multilevel list.

You probably want to save your list style, so you'll click the Multilevel List button/arrow and choose Define New List Style.
Here is a video. She talks too slow, but shows how to do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRXR-0l1-W4

Thanks. I see that the multi level list allows me to set options for restarting the numbering. I will look into it.

The reason why I shunned list styles was the seeming horror stories associated with it. I read John McGhie's primer years back and ever since then I have been configuring numbering through the heading styles...

I will revisit it again.

Attached Files

WordsNumberingExplainedUSLetter.pdf (293.6 KB, 34 views)

It's all better now!

I am happy to report that it is working flawlessly. No need for configuring numbering via styles now!

In fact, it is no longer possible to modify outline (multilevel) numbering via styles.

However, when editing a multilevel list, you should always start with the insertion point in the first level 1 paragraph of the list (meaning the first Heading 1 paragraph of the document if you are dealing with heading numbering).