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Update figure numbers

Anonymous
2023-10-26T15:25:58+00:00

Word 2019 I'm updating a book with chapter numbers and figure numbers, like Chapter 3 with figure number Figure 3-15. When I click on Insert Caption, it shows me Figure 3-1 regardless whether I have selected the third or the 15th figure. I have 59 figures in Chapter 3. When I accepted Figure 3-1, I get Figure 0-1. What am I doing wrong? I am on Windows 11 Pro with 64-bit.

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  1. Stefan Blom 341.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-27T17:37:31+00:00

    Alt+Fn+F9 and Alt+F9 both gives me Settings. Is there some other way to get field codes?

    Do you mean that it displays the Windows Settings? In that case, as Charles suggested, your computer has hijacked these shortcuts.

    You can specify a custom shortcut in the Customize Keyboard dialog box (File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize). See the screen shot below.

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-26T17:49:26+00:00

    Your captions are not set up to reference the heading or you are inserting the caption before your heading that has the 3.

    The numbering of such a caption combines a StyleRef field to pick up the heading number together with a Sequence field to give the sequential number. You can toggle the view of such fields with the shortcut Alt+F9.

    You are welcome to post a link to a sample document with the problem for full analysis and explanation.

    Why a sample file is important for troubleshooting - - - - - - - and how to do it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-27T01:25:49+00:00

    Oh, there is something I'm trying to figure out. I'm a copy of writing to edit a little bit more, and I started out with the multilevel chapters. With the multilevel chapters starting out, the figures don't coincide with numbers of the figures before. Let me say it a different way. The numbers match the numbers from the Caption, but I still have to make the new numbers. Is there anyway to update the number so they match with the Caption box?

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  4. Stefan Blom 341.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-26T23:59:23+00:00

    Maybe the problem document hadn't been using the Caption dialog box. It is possible to create numbering using a multilevel list instead. This may explain why you can't reproduce it.

    You can use either Alt+Fn+F9 or Alt+F9 to reveal field codes in Word. Caption numbering created via the Caption dialog box makes use of SEQ fields, so it won't be that difficult to identify them. What appears to be the same sequence may actually be created with different SEQ fields, and that will make the numbering incorrect. You can look closely at the field codes, and report back here what you see. You may also/alternatively upload some screen shots that illustrate what you see.

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  5. Stefan Blom 341.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2023-10-26T17:55:50+00:00

    Word displays a zero for the "chapter" part when it can't find a heading number. One possibility is that there is a blank paragraph in Heading 1 style somewhere above your figure number.

    Displaying nonprinting marks will often help to diagnose these type of issues. Use the ¶ icon on the Home tab.

    Since the numbering is out of sequence, there are probably other issues as well. Are you sure that all figure numbers were set up correctly from the Caption dialog box?

    If you want to, you can share a sample document with the forum.

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