Word 2010 blacking out numbering for Heading 3 in body and TOC

Anonymous

My boss gave me a document to fix. Word 2010 has started blacking out (black box) the number for Heading 3 headers in the body and the TOC. I make the blocking go away by modifying the style numbering, but I can't get the numbering to work properly (won't let me set the numbering at X.X.X for Heading 3).

Has anyone seen this black-blocking on header level numbers (and do you know how to fix it)?

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

And actually, here is a solution which works.

Find a document which has the correct formatting in it.
Save it as a template
In the corrupted (for that is what it is) document go to the styles dialog box. The easiest way to do this is to use CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+S, otherwise you have to find your way through the poxy ribbon
Hit the manage style button at the bottom of the box (right hand one of the three)
Hit import/export
in the right hand window of the box which appears, hit close file
Now navigate to the uncorrupted document and select it.
In the scroll box above navigate to the style you want to fix and click on it (single click)
The copy arrow should now poin to the right, toward teh corrupt document
Hit copy
Say yes to everything
Close all dialog boxes

This fixed it for me, hopefully it will work for you.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K MVP Volunteer Moderator

That may not be a permanent fix.

The problem occurs because the font characteristics in the list template have become corrupted and is best fixed by running a macro containing the following code:

For Each templ In ActiveDocument.ListTemplates

For Each lev In templ.ListLevels

lev.Font.Reset

Next lev

Next templ

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K MVP Volunteer Moderator

See the article "How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in your Microsoft Word document" on the following page of fellow MVP Shauna Kelly's website:

http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html

If you create a template to hold your numbering scheme, you can use that template as the basis for new documents (using File > New) and the new documents will then inherit your numbering scheme. To do that, see:

Creating a Template - The Basics (Part I) at:

http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart1.htm

and Creating a Template (Part II) at:

http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/CreateATemplatePart2.htm

0 comments

100 additional answers

Anonymous

2011-10-31T12:59:14+00:00

I did a bit of experimenting when I encountered this error (as this was the only version of the document I had with this formatting and I was not anxious to recreate it).

I think the issue is that the font (size) for that specific heading number becomes corrupted. If I select my headings and try to 'Define new Multilevel List' the value in 'Enter formatting for number' is illegible.

Clicking on 'Font' I get an error message 'The number must be between 1 and 600.'

Clicking 'OK' on the error message I am navigated to the Font pop-up (where the Size is 0), however no matter what adjustments I made when I click 'OK' on this interface I get another error message 'The number must be between 1 and 1638.'

I still have no idea how to fix a corrupted font, however.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2011-11-25T04:33:26+00:00

Aoram,

I am encountering this issue in all possible shapes and forms in the last few days as I am pressed to issue our department new templates for Monday Nov 28 and I dont want to risk diffusing a corrupt template; It seems that the chosen style for Heading 3 triggers exactly that, no matter which method I use to create the numbered headings.

I suspect it is a conflict between the numbered list style and the heading style.

I create my headings first either by modifying the built-ins or from scratch with a custom name.

Level one: Arial bold 12 All caps

Level two: Arial bold 12

Level three Arial bold SMALL CAPS

Level four: Arial bold 11

Then i create a multilevel numbered list with the following indents and character formats for the number (note that All caps is available when doing numbering font formatting but not Small caps):

1.0xxTEXTSTART level 1 Arial-Bold- 12 All caps

1.11xxTEXTSTART level 2 Arial-Bold- 12

1.11xx1.11.11xxTEXTSTART level3 Arial-Bold- 12 <-- Here is the problem

1.11xx1.11.11xxa)xxTEXTSTART level 4 Arial-Bold- 11

Apply the styles to corresponding levels.

There are 3 things that go wrong on that level 3:

1st is my chosen style (Small caps for Heading 3 but option not available for the numbers formatting in the multilevel list)

2nd. if i accidentally erase the "fielded" numbers in the numbering formatting preview line, and try to "re-add"them by setting "include level number from" this menu does not work properly; sometimes it does not add level 2 but does level 1, sometimes it puts level 2 first and level 1.

I found that if i did a list partially to come back to modify or add to it later, that triggers often problems.

Lists that seem to work so far are those I made from beginning to end without closing once the dialogue box and NOT setting the numbers color, font and weigh format in the "modify a multilevel list" pane but in the define new style list, despite that both pane offer the possibility to format font. That implies that i know exactly the indents i'm gonna use for each style (I note them on a piece of paper since setting them from the ruler won't produce durable stable results).

If you find more precise guidelines regarding this black boxes issues please share!!!
Was this answer helpful?

2 people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments