Heading 2 numbering not resetting to follow preceding Heading 1.

Anonymous
2011-02-24T03:04:29+00:00

I have a document in Word 2007 that I have created for use as a template. I have done this via the modification of another document that was already fomatted with TOC, headers and footers, page numbers, heading numbering etc. I have been modifying/creating new "styles" rather than just formatting text.

This all seems to be working well except for heading 2 numbering, which is not resetting to follow the preceding heading 1 number. For example: -

  1. Heading 1; is followed by 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
  2. Heading 2; followed by 1.4,1.5..... (carried on from previous list)

Heading 3 is resetting to follow the preceding heading as it should (i.e. 1.2 is followed by 1.2.1, 1.2.2 etc.).

There is no "restart numbering" option when I right click over the numbering in text. When I try to modify Heading 2 in Styles and select format>numbering the field does not recognise that the numbering is secong tier (i.e. 1.1, 1.2..etc) and only shows first tier options (i.e. 1, 2, 3...etc). I cannot seem to find any option in the modify style dialogue box to link the numbering.

When I base heading 2 on heading 1, formatting reverts to mimic heading 1 exactly and I cannot then reformat heading 2 to second tier numbering using the modify dialogue box as once again it is only recognising first tier numbering. The heading 2 that I am using is currently based on heading 2 from the original document and has been re-labelled "heading 2 VE".    

I know that not building the document from scratch is naughty but I'm only mediocre at MS word and it would take me ages. Please tell me there's a simple trick and I don't have to start again!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-06-15T15:32:23+00:00

Did you try using  the built-in numbering scheme before you  created one from scratch?  If you don't have any customizations to the number formatting or style, indents, and such, the built-in scheme is all you need.

You can "start over" by putting the cursor in the first heading 1, clicking the multilevel list icon, and in the list gallery, clicking the built-in numbering badge that shows this:  1 Heading 1, 1.1 Heading, 1.1.1 Heading 3, etc.

Even if you want only minor customizations, though, you may want a list style in your template. So after you have applied the built-in number scheme and with the cursor still in  the first heading 1, go back to the list gallery and click Define new List Style (name the list style) > Format  > Numbering.  The dialog will show all the settings of the current list (where the cursor is) except that no headings will be linked to the numbering levels.  Customize the settings and add the heading links. 

One of the advantages of starting with a built-in list is that the number fields and restarts are already there and correct.   But the biggest one is that you don't have to do all of those steps and clicks!

Pam

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2011-02-24T03:23:17+00:00

You must set up the heading numbering as a multilevel list linked to the heading styles. If you select the 1 Heading 1, 1.1 Heading 2, 1.1.1 Heading 3 list type in the Multilevel List gallery, the list levels will be linked to the styles automatically, will have the numbering you want, and will restart after higher levels. For more on this, seehttp://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html.

Once the numbering is linked to the styles, you can modify the formatting of the styles any way you like (in the Modify Style dialog) except wrt numbering; any changes to the numbering or indents (left or hanging) must be made in the Define New Multilevel List dialog.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

61 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-10-26T18:04:56+00:00

    " (Microsoft should probably change the title of this window - hint, hint.)"

    Define a new list is exactly what is happening and what has been happening—maybe from the beginning of Word's outline/multilevel list numbering.    In W2003 and before, MS disguised this by calling it "customize".  Word document developers  often wrote (and complained) about the  proliferation of "list templates" in Word forums during W2003's reign.   I read many of them.   With W2007, which introduced List Styles that CAN be modified,  the wording changed to "define new".  I am supposing that MS did that to clarify the difference.

    HTH,

    Pam

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Stefan Blom 352.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-10-26T14:08:07+00:00

    Note that all of this is discussed in Shauna Kelly's article at http://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-26T06:42:12+00:00

    THIS IS THE COMPLETE ANSWER!!!!

    I'm using MS Word 2010.  Seems that the bullet Level is NOT linked to similar Heading level.  (I had a problem with Level 2 not starting over with the current Level 1.)  Here's what to do:

    • On the Home Tab in the Paragraph section, click on the Multilevel List Button.  At the bottom of the window that popped up, click Define New Multilevel List...  As Suzanne says above, this can create a new list, but also modify the current. (Microsoft should probably change the title of this window - hint, hint.)
    • In the bottom right of this new window, click the More >> button.  The window will expand showing more options.
    • On the left of the window, click an a level to modify (1, 2, 3, ....)  Note the window on the right, "Link level to style:"  Make sure the "x" level is linked to the Heading x.  Again, I was having problems with Level 2 not restarting because my level 1 was not linked to Heading 1.

    Note that in Pam's response above, she suggested to modify the "Include level number from:" field.  Following my steps above, you should not have to do this and should leave this field blank.  However, as Pam and Greg point out, any item not greyed out in the "Enter formatting for number:" field may be modified.  Be careful it  you do!!

    Also use this window to modify font, alignment, tab placement, etc.  One stop shopping!

    Hope this helps.  Enjoy!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments