.docx document with custom styles and multi level number list style crashing after multiple actions

Question

Hello

I have a document that is used as a template by many people. The document has predetermined styles and a multi level number list style that the styles are assigned to. I have received multiple complaints about the document crashing without creating a recovery document. There have been multiple actions that cause it to crash including using the Tab button to transition between the Level 4 (i.i.i.i) and the Level 5 (a.) styles, clicking off Word to another window (google), copying content into the document, and other actions.

I have opened the document in safe mode and it still crashed on me without providing evidence of why. 

Any help with identifying what is causing it to crash and how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.

Previously, when transitioning from the level 4 to level 5 style it would crash when using Tab,. If you selected the style from the panel it would apply the style but the number would be a black box that you needed to reapply the style.

Answer 1

Hello,

My name is Charles Kenyon and I am an Independent Advisor in this forum . This forum is a user-to-user support forum. I am a fellow user with decades of experience using Microsoft Word. I have written extensively on using Word and have help articles on the Microsoft site.

First, I want to draw your attention to the difference, in Word jargon and usage between a "document" and a "template." The meaning of "template" in Word jargon is more restricted than the meaning in ordinary English. Here is my page on templates.

http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/templates.htm

It sounds like someone took the time to set up the numbering initially by linking to styles. Step by step instructions for setting up your numbering can be found here:

http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbe...

(Mac version http://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2016/06...)

This method may seem a bit of work but not using it for important work is asking for trouble. Once you have it set, you can save a template with it and use that template for new documents where you need good numbering that can survive editing.

Once you have this set, the key to using this is to apply your numbering by applying the related style, not using the numbering dialogs.

That is likely a source of your problems. Again, use the styles to set the numbering.

If you want, save a sample document with the problem on OneDrive or Dropbox and paste a view link here. Here is more on why and how to post such a document so I or others here can help you. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/fo...

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These are links to pages on one or more pages on my website and on one or more sites that I personally trust and vouch for. Those pages contain accurate safe information that I think will help you. However, as an Independent Advisor I am required to give the following notice when providing non-Microsoft links, even to my own site :

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Required Notice: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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I hope this information helps.

Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

You can ask for more help by replying to this post (Reply button below).

Stay well

Answer 2

The "blob" seen in the level 5 numbering indicates minor corruption of the font properties for that level. There is a macro, originally created by MVP Doug Robbins, which can be used to fix this corruption. See for example Blacked out numbering in MS Word 2016 - Microsoft Community.

However, I would suggest that you recreate the numbering format and that you carefully set it up as discussed in the article at https://shaunakelly.com/word/numbering/numbering20072010.html. Be sure to save the resulting document as a true template, with the dotx extension, which you then use to create untitled documents with the correct numbering format.