A question on changing List Levels in Multi-Level Numbering

Question

Hello,

I have occasionally run across this baffling matter regarding auto numbering. I want to understand why this sometimes occurs so I know moving forward what will happen and can explain it to others that I teach. (other than just saying, "if it occurs, then don't use it")

I was able to replicate it in the file whose link is here:

Numbering question.docx

See picture 1 below, when I select the 3 paragraphs and click Increase Indent icon (or press the shortcut Tab key), I don't get what I get most of the time. That the list level would change from level 1 to level 2. What I get is that all 3 paragraphs are indented .25 inches or .5 inches but remain at level 1 numbering. So then I have to undo the indent change, click the Multi-level list button, point to Change List Level and click Level 2. This takes longer.

See picture 2 below, here when I select these 2 paragraphs and click the Increase Indent icon (or press the shortcut tab key), the list level DOES change from level 1 to level 2 which is normally the result I get. So here I would get both paragraphs numbered a. and b.

So should I always use (and teach) that to change list levels in auto numbering mode, to first click the Multi-level list icon, then point to Change List Level, then pick the level needed?

This is more time consuming than using increase/decrease indent or tab/shift tab keys though... Thanks very much for any expert advice or insight!

Craig

Answer 1

When the first item of a list is at the first level, it can't go to a second level because there is no first level item to precede it. It only indents.

Test on the second level, or add more first level lines below the first one.

Answer 2

followup point

in a blank new document, I typed several paragraphs of dummy text, then selected all text, then clicked multi level list and picked the current list ( standard one marked 1. a. i. )

then I selected the first 3 para, but neither increase indent, tab, nor alt shift right arrow changes the list level to level 2. it just indents all 3 paragraphs keeping numbering at level 1

perhaps its just particular to the very first paragraph. so for that one i have to go the longer route to change list level, that is, to choose multi-level list icon, point to change list level and click level 2.

whenever, i select paragraphs other than the first one, the increase indent, tab and alt shift right arrow shortcuts do work to change the list level

Answer 3

Your sample document numbering is not part of a multi-level list format. The text has a Microsoft default single-level numbering applied to it.

Here is a sample file with true multi-level numbering applied. After opening it in Word for Windows, click on the Multilevel List button (third from the left in the Paragraph group) and observe the highlighted List Style. Your document doesn't display a list style in the same dropdown.

Answer 4

thanks so much for taking the time to send

I opened and increase indent icon, or tab key or Alt shift right still doesn't change list levels when i select both lines

Answer 5

if you have a moment, can you answer this...which is also mystifying to me

why is numbering icon lit up (in grey) see picture... and not multi-level list icon ...even though one clicks multi-level list icon to turn the command on?