WinWord: Different Indents Cause Improper Numbering Sequence

 Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
Article ID: Q80857
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, outline numbering is restarted each time a new indent measurement is found.

MORE INFORMATION

In Word for Windows, you can set indents by choosing Bullets and Numbering from the Tools menu, selecting the Outline option button, and selecting Outline in the Format box. Indents are treated as heading levels when Word applies outline numbering. In the example below, three indented paragraphs are numbered using the Bullets and Numbering command.

Before applying outline numbering, the three indented paragraphs appear as follows: 

        TITLE

                SUBTITLE

                        SUBTITLE
After applying outline numbering, the three indented paragraphs appear as follows: 

        I.      TITLE

                A.      SUBTITLE

                        1.      SUBTITLE
If you set up a series of indents in the above format and then number the text, the numbering orders itself properly; however, if you add more information to the outline and set different indents, the numbering restarts with one (I.) and does not follow the proper sequence. This is a design feature of Word version 2.0.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

  1. In a new document, type "TITLE," and press ENTER.

  2. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Select 0.5" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button.

  3. Type the word "SUBTITLE," and press ENTER.

  4. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Select 1.0" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button.

  5. Type "SUBTITLE."

  6. Select all the text. From the Tools menu, choose Bullets and Numbering, and select the Outline option button.

  7. In the Format box, select Outline, then choose the OK button. (Note that lines of text set with different indents are numbered as shown in the example above.)

  8. Position the insertion point at the end of the second "SUBTITLE" (step 3), and press ENTER.

  9. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type 0.1" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button.

  10. Type "TITLE," and press ENTER.

  11. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type 0.6" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button.

  12. Type "SUBTITLE," and press ENTER.

  13. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type 1.1" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button.

  14. Type "SUBTITLE."

  15. Repeat steps 6 and 7 above.

Note that the text added in steps 10, 12, and 14 are not properly sequenced. This behavior occurs because Word detects that the indents are set differently and therefore renumbers the new lines from the beginning, which produces improper sequencing.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 171-174, 521-532

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory: kbformat
Additional query words: winword2 6.0 6.0a 6.0c winword word6
automatically incorrect 2.0 toolbar tool bar outlining
Keywords : kbformat
Version : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
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