Multilevel List Linked Styles

Question

All,

I followed Shauna Kelly's excellent tutorial on making multilevel lists and linking the lists to preformatted heading styles, though after I reread her article, I realized I didn't apply a heading style to every single level available since I wasn't planning on using all of them (I went down to 3 originally, then down to 6 later in the document). When I go back to make changes to my multilevel list numbering, the styles associated with the levels I did format don't appear to be there anymore. The numbering appears to work correctly, but only down to a certain level (usually 5 deep or so), when it reverts to the default numbering scheme. Was the original failure to connect heading styles to numbering the issue, or is it something else?

If this is unclear, please let me know and I'll explain more clearly.

Answer 1

As long as you click in the very first level 1 paragraph (meaning the first Heading 1 paragraph if you have associated numbering with the built-in headings) before accessing the multilevel list dialog box, what comes before the first level 1 number makes no difference.

When are the linked headings "vanishing," by the way? When/if you revisit the dialog box? Or are you saying that promoting/demoting the list doesn't apply the correct style?

Answer 2

Does it make any difference if there is text prior to the first Level 1 heading? It's a section of front matter in a completely different style. I tried your suggestion but the linked headings are still vanishing. It's becoming a problem after I get to Level 4 and below. I actually have to tab over to get Level 4 to look the way I want, applies the correct formatting per the multilevel list style.

Answer 3

All,

I followed Shauna Kelly's excellent tutorial on making multilevel lists and linking the lists to preformatted heading styles, though after I reread her article, I realized I didn't apply a heading style to every single level available since I wasn't planning on using all of them (I went down to 3 originally, then down to 6 later in the document). When I go back to make changes to my multilevel list numbering, the styles associated with the levels I did format don't appear to be there anymore. The numbering appears to work correctly, but only down to a certain level (usually 5 deep or so), when it reverts to the default numbering scheme. Was the original failure to connect heading styles to numbering the issue, or is it something else?

If this is unclear, please let me know and I'll explain more clearly.

No, it really doesn't matter if you only  format/change a few levels--except that if, as you found, if you do need to use them, you'll have to modify the list style.  And you must, as Suzanne says,  place the cursor in the first heading 1 (aka first numbering level) instance in your document before clicking the Multilevel List icon and then right clicking your list style's badge and left clicking Modify. 

By the way, if you clicked Define New Multilevel List, you created a new list that is not connected to the list style you created by following Shauna Kelly's instructions.

Answer 4

I think you should be able to edit the list provided you:

1. Place the insertion point in the first Level 1 head before opening the Define New Multilevel List dialog.
2. Visit each level in turn and link it to a heading style.

Answer 5

Although others have advised you can revise such a list style, I have always recreated if I need more levels. In the past five years, I have always done 9 levels even if I only plan on using 3. It is not hard to do when you set the template up and do-overs are a pain.

I think you get the pain. I would recommend doing a new definition in a separate template and transferring to your current document. You could do this either with the Organizer or by attaching the document to the template with the option checked to update styles. (You later want to uncheck that option, though.)