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I am using the default list numbering in a pretty basic but large (450 page) document. No macros, no custom styles...I am simply using the default headers and the list numbering.
the trouble all started when i decided it would look better to left align the list numbering. When I have done this type of thing with regular headers there has never been a problem. You can easily apply new formatting and apply to the entire document.
With the List Number style this didnt work. I found online a suggestion of using the Set Numbering Value at 1 each time which I have been doing for over 2 weeks now but the lists keep reassigning the starting numbers arbitrarily so some lists start at 98 and others at 74 and on and on. I keep changing them back to start at 1 but again they reset themselvs.
This is an instruction manual so there are alot of short lists (steps on what to do) within alot of sections.
A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.
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Using a multilevel list is exactly how you should set up restarts for numbering in Word. Level 1 can be an un-numbered "dummy" level/style, as you have noticed.
Personally I would use Body Text rather than Normal for level 1, but that is (to a certain extent) a matter of taste. :-)
Click in the first level 1 item in your list. Click Home tab | Multilevel List | Define New Multilevel List (yes, the command is misleading). In the dialog box, verify that level 2 is set to restart after level 1, that level 3 is set to restart after level 2, etc.
Also, how are you applying your list? Was it created with a list style? With a paragraph style for each numbering level?
You can't specify a default numbering scheme in Word. Which specific option did you choose?
If you are using the List Number paragraph style, note that numbering will continue (through-out the document). Any restarts must be done manually.
To change the indentation of any numbered list (in Word 2007 or later), click the actual list number; Word selects all list items. Right-click and choose Adjust List Indents from the context menu. See also http://wordfaqs.mvps.org/NumberAlignment2007.htm#NumberedLists.
Hello Doug
Thanks for the instructions but they are complicated. I have such a simple list requirement and am at a point whereby I am about to just remove all numbering from this document.
I am using the base List Numbering style. Nothing at all fancy here. Everytime I open the document it changes the numbering scheme throughout the entire document and I set them back to starting at 1 and it starts all over...sometimes the numbering is in the 200's and other times 4, 8 or whatever. There is no reason for this to be happening that I can see.
As this is a software guide which is converted to html online it is a crises for me. I dislike Word so much I could scream!
All i did was move the left margin over for the List Number style to better line up with the rest of the text and this mess was created.
Do you have any other suggestions on how to fix this?
Does anyone offer a service to fix it for me?
My advice is to follow the steps in Shauna Kelly's article to which I gave you a link.