Share via

Numbering Refresh Bug

Anonymous
2019-07-18T03:21:30+00:00

The following versions of MS Word appear to have a bug where numbering does not refresh - 2019, 2016, 2013

The bug does not exist in Word 2010.

Problem:

In a document containing numbered paragraphs that spans multiple pages and is separated by non-numbered paragraphs, when additional numbered paragraphs are added to the first page, the numbering on subsequent pages does not automatically update.

A user needs to print the document or manually refresh fields to resolve the confusion.

To reproduce create a document as follows:

Heading 1 (starts on new page with no numbering and is not linked to List Number)

  1. List Number
  2. List Number
  3. List Number

Heading 1 (starts on new page with no numbering and is not linked to List Number)

  1. List Number
  2. List Number
  3. List Number

Heading 1 (starts on new page with no numbering and is not linked to List Number)

  1. List Number
  2. List Number
  3. List Number

Now if you add additional List Number paragraphs to the first page and scroll down to the second page, the numbering is incorrect.

Can someone please confirm that this is a bug?

-- Edit -- Reproduction steps clarified.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

22 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-07-19T07:39:17+00:00

    OK, I do see an issue if a new numbered item is INSERTED into the list under the first heading.  If an item is ADDED to the list under the first heading, the numbers in the list under the second heading do update automatically.

    In addition to the above, I can confirm that it appears to be an issue with Word in Office 2019 and Office 365 as it does not occur with Word in Office 2010.

    I will report the issue to the Word Product Team.

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-18T04:57:22+00:00

    Hi Doug

    Thanks for you reply. Respectfully, did you test the scenario that I wrote up? or are you just stating what you believe to be true?

    I'm very familiar with Shauna Kelly's article and I have 20 years of Word, VBA, VSTO experience.

    If I use numbering that is tied to a List Style, I still see the refresh bug.

    Any help appreciated.

    Cheers

    Matt

    Was this answer helpful?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Stefan Blom 342.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-07-29T10:10:52+00:00

    The Office team has been able to reproduce this. No more information has been given so far.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Stefan Blom 342.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-07-19T12:04:26+00:00

    I was finally able to reproduce the issue, too. Doug has reported it to the product team and I have confirmed his observations.

    It is worth noting that, with style-based numbering, an incorrectly numbered paragraph can be "repaired" by resetting paragraph formatting (Ctrl+Q).

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2019-07-18T04:37:38+00:00

    If you set up the numbering correctly, they will automatically update.

    See the article "How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in your Microsoft Word document" on the following page of the Late Shauna Kelly's website:

    http://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html?p=1768

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments