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Restart Numbering Issue with Paragraphs with Locked Content Controls

Anonymous
2021-09-22T13:57:59+00:00

I have found an issue where Word is losing its numbering in Paragraphs that have Locked Content Controls after updating styles in a Document.

The issue occurs in the latest release: Version 2108 (Build 14326.20404) 64bit

The issue seems to be caused by Word cleaning up unused lists in the document when saving but failing to update the affected Paragraphs so they end up pointing to the wrong numbered list, or a numbered list which no longer exists.

I have created an example document and template, which can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kp9cu96x5x70wai/Numbering%20Bug%20Testing.zip 

Reproduction steps are shown below. When following the steps below, the document seems fine until you close and re-open it at which the numbering is broken.

Before Closing and Re-opening

After Saving and Re-opening

As you can see from the above image, the numbering has changed and the second number now has a "." at the end and a different indent.

Reproduction Steps

  1. Open Document.docx
  2. Select the Developer Tab on the Ribbon
  3. Click Document Template in the Templates Group
  4. Click Attach
  5. Browse to and Select Template.dotx
  6. Click Open
  7. Ensure Automatically update document styles is ticked
  8. Click OK
  9. Right Click on the Numbering (the number 2) as shown below
  10. Click Set Numbering Value
  11. Type 1 into Set Value As:
  12. Click OK
  13. Select the Content Control as shown below
  14. Select the Developer Tab on the Ribbon
  15. Click Properties in the Controls Group
  16. Tick Contents cannot be edited in the Locking Group
  17. Click OK
  18. Save the Document
  19. Close the Document
  20. Open the Document again
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  1. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-09-22T18:16:14+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for the quick response, yes our numbering was created in that way.

    Just to clarify, the above issue only occurs if the content control is locked.

    The numbering works absolutely fine if the content control is not locked at that point, so I don't believe it is an issue with how the numbering is setup.

    I have investigated the output document's openxml after saving and the numbering list that it points to no longer exists in the document after the save which is why the numbering becomes corrupt when re-opening the document.

    No. Your numbering is not linked to styles. This is a simple list.

    I tried again with your document restricted as no changes. No problem.

    I tried again with your document restricted for filling in forms (a poor choice). No problem.

    Your list of instructions does not include locking the document nor how you did that. Here is a temporary linkto the document with the content control set to not allow editing. https://www.dropbox.com/s/0qzpsh2gakpook2/deleteme%20content%20control%20numbering.docx?dl=0

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-09-22T15:51:32+00:00

    The answer to my question is "No." You did not follow the directions on Shauna Kelly's page.

    I followed your directions and this is what I see when reopening.

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  3. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-09-22T15:42:59+00:00

    I've downloaded your document. Can you tell me if you created your numbering following the steps shown here:

    How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Ribbon Versions of Word by Shauna Kelly?

    If you did not, automatic numbering will fail in a number of circumstances.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-09-23T08:16:40+00:00

    My numbering IS linked to Styles.

    In the original Document.docx this is how the numbering is defined.

    The numbering REMAINS linked to that Style through all of the above steps until you Close and Open the document, at which point the numbering is lost.

    This only happens when locking that content control.

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  5. Anonymous
    2021-09-22T15:55:04+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for the quick response, yes our numbering was created in that way.

    Just to clarify, the above issue only occurs if the content control is locked.

    The numbering works absolutely fine if the content control is not locked at that point, so I don't believe it is an issue with how the numbering is setup.

    I have investigated the output document's openxml after saving and the numbering list that it points to no longer exists in the document after the save which is why the numbering becomes corrupt when re-opening the document.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments