Microsoft KB Archive/80857

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WinWord: Different Indents Cause Improper Numbering Sequence

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Q80857

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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

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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
 In a new document, type TITLE, and press ENTER. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Select 0.5&quot; in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button. Type the word SUBTITLE, and press ENTER. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Select 1.0&quot; in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button. Type SUBTITLE. Select all the text. From the Tools menu, choose Bullets and Numbering, and select the Outline option button. 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.)</li> Position the insertion point at the end of the second SUBTITLE (step 3), and press ENTER.</li>  From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type the following: "0.1&quot;" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button. </li> Type TITLE, and press ENTER.</li>  From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type the following "0.6&quot;" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button. </li> Type SUBTITLE, and press ENTER.</li>  From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Type the following: "1.1&quot;" in the Indentation from Left box, then choose the OK button. </li> Type SUBTITLE.</li> Repeat steps 6 and 7 above.</li></ol>

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.