My default Word Heading Styles are Missing

Question

Hi everyone,

I am trying to learn how to use automatic numbering of headings and noticed that my word heading styles appear differently than the default. I tried attaching the normal template by using the developer button and checking the automatically update document styles tab. I pressed ok. I thought this would do the trick? This didnt help update my headings. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Hi AC_132!

If your default Word heading styles are missing or appear differently than the default, you can try the following steps to restore them: * Open a new Word document. * Go to the "Home" tab in the Word ribbon. * In the "Styles" group, click on the small arrow at the bottom right corner to open the "Styles" pane. * In the "Styles" pane, click on the "Options" link at the bottom. * In the "Style Pane Options" dialog box, make sure that the "All styles" option is selected in the "Select styles to show" dropdown menu. * Click "OK" to close the dialog box. * In the "Styles" pane, click on the "Manage Styles" button (the icon with a paintbrush). * In the "Manage Styles" dialog box, click on the "Import/Export..." button. * In the "Organizer" dialog box, select the "Styles" tab. * In the "Styles" tab, click on the "Reset" button at the bottom. * Confirm the reset when prompted. * Close the "Organizer" dialog box and the "Styles" pane.

* make sure it is apply to all new document created and set as default.

Kindly let me know, if you require additional assistance, I will be glad to help further.

Best Regards, Shakiru

Answer 2

Hello Shakiru,

Thank you for the help. I tried following the instructions and got stuck below where I opened up the organizer dialog box. I couldn't find the reset button. Is there something wrong with my normal template? I do not remember going in and changing any of the settings. I remember that the headings were black to begin with but now they appear blue? Please see my pics below. Do you know where the problem lies? Thank you in advance.

Answer 3

What is different? Perhaps those are the styles that are in your normal template.

The default heading styles are not numbered.

You can recreate your normal template with its native styles by renaming the existing one.

If you use automatic paragraph numbering or bullets read Shauna Kelly's directions on numbering and bullets. Start with How to create numbered headings or outline numbering and her parallel page *How to control bullets*. For large documents you must follow these directions or you will lose your hair!
(Mac version: https://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2016/06/outline-numbering-in-word-for-os-x/). For styles attached this way, you also control the left indents through the Define New MultiLevel List dialog not the Ruler or the Modify Style dialog.

This may seem a bit convoluted at first, but it really is not. Just follow the steps. Shauna Kelly's instructions use the built-in heading styles, but you can use any existing paragraph styles including your custom styles. There are, however advantages to using the built-in heading styles when you create a Table of Contents. Here are some more advantages: Why Use Word's Built-In Heading Styles? by Shauna Kelly Note, you can modify these built-in styles to look exactly the way you want.

You want to do this even if what you want is a single-level list if you want the most control over your list.

If you want, I can provide links to videos demonstrating setting up numbering linked to styles.

The basic idea is that the numbering is set using the Define MultiLevel List dialog with each numbering level being attached to an existing paragraph style. Once you have this set up, you should not use the buttons for numbering in the Ribbon but rather apply the appropriate style for that level.

You can save a document with this as a template for future documents if you want so you will not need to do this every time.

Answer 4

Hi Charles,

Below is a picture of what my styles look like. I don't even remember going in and altering the styles at all. Not completely sure how the styles changed but I would like the word styles to come with black font that is why I want to find a way to restore the original default normal template settings that word originally came with. I was happy with the original styles and am wanting to learn how to make my own custom style after I watch some youtube videos.

Would you have any suggestions how to fix this issue?

Also, thank you for providing the links. I will take a look at them. Should I ignore this link https://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2016/06/outline-numbering-in-word-for-os-x/? because is this one geared toward MAC users?

Thank you,

AC

Answer 5

Your style formatting appears to be the default. If you are concerned about the display in the Style Gallery, note that this is caused by the "visual refresh." If you still have the megaphone on your title bar, you can turn this off. See https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/new-experiencevisual-refresh-preview-microsoft/af0f6a03-52a3-439b-b449-029dc1e2c26a