Second multilevel list in same document

Question

Hi,

 I'm having some problems trying to create a second multilevel list in a document.

I am able to create the first multilevel list without any problems: I created three styles, Head1, Head2 and Head3, then used 'Define New Multilevel list' to create my first multilevel list. Everything works as it should with this list.

I then created three more new styles, Level1, Level2 and Level3. I placed my cursor on the first line of one of the styles, and click on the 'Define New Multilevel List' option. However, when the dialog box opens, it shows the settings and styles from the first multilevel list.

I have tried changing the settings in the dialog box to link to the new styles and then giving the list a new ListNum Field List Name, but when I click 'OK' it does not apply the new list correctly and instead screws up the second set of three styles that I created.

Am I missing a step here, or is there any reason why this is happening? Do I need to create each multilevel list in a new section?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I think the issue is that when you select Define New Multilevel List, the starting point is whatever list template is selected in the List Library. If that is your previous list, then that's what you'll be starting with. If the insertion point when you open the menu is one of the items in the previous list, then naturally that list will be selected. If the insertion point is in an unnumbered paragraph, the None pane will be selected, but when you click Define New Multilevel List, the first list template (the one with 1), a), i)) will be the default. In order to choose a different one, you have to actually apply it to the current paragraph, then return to the menu and Choose Define New Multilevel List. This is very annoying and less efficient than the Format | Bullets and Numbering | Outline Numbered | Customize... path in Word 2003 and earlier, where you could select a list template without having to apply it.

Answer 2

You can create as many multilevel lists you like. It is recommended that each level should be associated with a unique paragraph style. In other words, you need nine paragraph styles per list. See http://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html. Note that the article uses the built-in headings as an example, but the same principles apply to all multilevel lists.

If you want to set up a both heading and appendix numbering, using the built-in heading styles is convenient (some of the headings would then be used for the appendix only). See http://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numberingappendixes.html.

Answer 3

Exactly what sort of numbering are you trying to set up in your document?  Show us an example,  including after which level the numbers should re-start, etc.

Answer 4

In the Define New Multilevel List dialog, set up the numbering formats that you require for the Level1, Level 2 and Level 3 styles using the list levels 5 thru 7

Hi Doug,

 Thanks for the reply. That is a suitable workaround for a second small list - but what if I need to create more than two or three multilevel lists, or create a second a list which has 5 or more levels? Is there is a way of doing this by creating separate lists?

As a little update, I've been playing around with multilevel lists this morning and have found that if I can get the 'Define New Multilevel List' to work if I apply it a second time after reapplying the Level1, 2 and 3 styles. Again, this is a bit of a workaround and it strikes me that I'm missing a step out by having to do this? Any ideas?

Thanks again

Answer 5

In the Define New Multilevel List dialog, set up the numbering formats that you require for the Level1, Level 2 and Level 3 styles using the list levels 5 thru 7